A new survey of regional businesses has demonstrated worsening trading conditions, rising costs, and collapsing confidence under the Allan Labor Government
Shadow Minister for Small Business, Bev McArthur, said the survey confirmed what every small business owner across regional and rural Victoria already knows - Labor's cost-of-government crisis is hurting our economy.
The Victorian Regional Chamber Alliance (VRCA) Business Health Survey shows:
- 81.1% of respondents said they had little or no confidence in the State Government - worse than any other level of government.
- 58.8% of respondents are currently operating at 80 per cent or less of typical sales.
- Only a little over half are drawing a living wage for the significant hours they invest and risk they take.
- 54.2% of respondents believed that tax reform and reduction, regulatory compliance and burdens, and grants and financial support would make business easier.
- 42.3% of businesses did not recruit staff in the previous 12 months, with many reporting severe recruitment and retention difficulties.
Mrs McArthur said: "Regional and rural Victorians are working harder than ever, but are being forced to cut discretionary spending as households grapple with cost-of-living pressures and receive little tax relief - meaning less money flowing through local businesses.
"At the same time, the Allan Labor Government keeps slapping small businesses with another tax, another levy to prop up its debt-ridden budget plus another layer of regulation to compound its interventionist approach to government.
"These are the businesses sponsoring local sporting clubs, employing local people, and keeping our towns vibrant.
"Only a Wilson Liberal and Nationals Government will reduce red tape, cut payroll tax and land tax, and abolish the Emergency Services Tax so rural and regional businesses can keep more of what they earn."
