Federal Nationals Member for Lyne Alison Penfold is calling on local small business owners to "get it off their liver" by taking part in a new survey designed to put the real experiences of regional businesses back at the centre of policy making.
Launching The Bottom Line: Small Business Reality Survey, Ms Penfold said governments had become too comfortable telling businesses how they should operate instead of listening to the people who took the risks, created jobs, and kept regional communities alive.
Ms Penfold said it was time for government to stop dictating to small business and start responding to small business.
She said she wanted to hear directly from local business owners about what's working, what's not, and what support they needed to succeed.
"Too often governments think they know best," Ms Penfold said.
"They regulate more, tax more, ask businesses to fill out more forms and then wonder why productivity has stalled.
"Every successful small business owner knows that if you don't listen to your customers, you won't be in business for long. Governments should learn the same lesson."
Ms Penfold said small businesses were far more than economic statistics.
She said they were at the heart of our community, creating local jobs, supporting local families, and playing a vital role in keeping our towns and neighbourhoods thriving.
"They're the people who employ our neighbours, sponsor the local football club, donate to school raffles, support charities, coach junior sport and volunteer in our communities," Ms Penfold said.
"They're the backbone of our local towns, yet too often they feel like they're treated as an afterthought."
The survey asks business owners about the issues which most affect their ability to grow, employ more people and remain profitable, including rising costs, workforce shortages, housing, infrastructure, energy, regulation and government red tape.
It also includes a dedicated "Get It Off Your Liver" section, giving business owners the opportunity to speak candidly about the frustrations they face every day.
"I don't want another glossy report that sits on a shelf," Ms Penfold said.
"I want to hear directly from the people who are living these challenges every day so we can identify practical reforms which improve productivity, reduce unnecessary burdens and make it easier to run a business."
Ms Penfold said the survey would form the basis of future advocacy in Canberra and would also help inform a local Small Business Roundtable to develop practical solutions for the region.
"Policy should be built from the ground up – not imposed from the top down," she said.
"Small business owners understand risk because they live it every day. They invest their own money, employ local people and carry the responsibility of keeping their businesses afloat.
"Governments should spend less time assuming they know what's best and more time listening to those who are actually creating jobs and growing our economy."
Ms Penfold is encouraging every small business owner from the Hastings to the Hunter – from sole traders through to larger family businesses – to take 10 minutes to complete the survey.
"The more businesses which participate, the stronger our case is to get the policies which help your business thrive," she said.
Take the survey here.
https://www.cognitoforms.com/AlisonPenfoldMP/TheBottomLineSmallBusinessRealitySurvey
The survey is open until Friday 28 August and individual responses will be confidential.
