A business survey released today reveals most small and medium-sized businesses think the Rann Government’s policies are not supportive of small business, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today.
“As part of the Sensis® Business Index, small and medium enterprises in South Australia were asked whether they believe the Rann Government’s policies are supportive of small business, work against small business or have no real impact either way,” Mr Lucas said.
“Just 16 per cent of surveyed businesses think the Rann Government’s policies are supportive of small business, with only New South Wales registering a lower result.
“Fully a quarter (25 per cent) of surveyed businesses believe the Rann Government’s policies actually work against small business.
“In fact, 84 per cent of surveyed businesses believe the Rann Government’s policies either work against small business or have no real impact.
“These figures are a damning indictment of the Rann Government’s failure to support small business, and in particular their anti-small business tax policies in areas such as payroll tax and land tax.
“The survey also reveals an alarming drop in the number of South Australian businesses anticipating economic growth (25 per cent, down from 43 per cent), now outnumbered by businesses expecting a slowing economy (33 per cent, up from 21 per cent).”
The survey results follow other warning signs on the South Australian economy in recent weeks:
• Bank SA’s July Monitor reported the lowest business confidence reading for five years and the lowest customer confidence for four and a half years.
• The ABS business investment figures showed South Australia with the worst business investment growth figures of any state.
• ABS economic growth estimates (State Final Demand – March) showed that South Australia has the second lowest economic growth over the last year with growth of 3 per cent compared to a national figure of 4.5 per cent.
• The monthly Engineering Employers Association survey of South Australia’s metal and engineering industries reported that the number of respondents who reported the level of production activity as being “very busy” decreased, while the number that reported activities as being “very slow” increased.
• ABS retail sales figures continue to show a sluggish retail climate in South Australia, with growth in the last year the worst of any state.