Page highlights workers compensation inconsistencies
Ballina businesses having to pay more than double the workers compensation premium in NSW compared with Queensland shows just how uncompetitive NSW has become under this incompetent Labor Government, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Don Page, said.
Mr Page said the proprietor of a Ballina removal business who operates in NSW and Queensland is required to have Workers Compensation cover for his staff in both States. His premium in NSW is more than double what he pays in Queensland.
“This Ballina employer pays just over $1 million in wages and is required to have a policy in each State. In New South Wales he pays $70,900 or 5.5% of his total wage bill, compared to a premium of $29,900 in Queensland or 2.6% of total wages,” Mr Page said.
“Yet this incompetent and out-of-touch Rees Government is trying to tell us that they are serious about protecting jobs and are ‘open for business’.
“The NSW State Labor Government is more interested in itself than in the problems of the small business sector.
Speaking in the NSW Parliament, Mr Page highlighted the Ballina business case and outlined problems facing small businesses in NSW.
“56% of business liquidations in Australia are occurring in NSW. Bad loans in the business sector are six times worse than the home mortgage sector and the NSW Labor Government has the lowest confidence level by the small business sector of any Government in Australia,” he said.
Mr Page said under Labor, payroll tax has now become the NSW Government’s biggest source of taxation revenue.
“Payroll tax is a tax on jobs. It is a disgrace that it is the largest source of tax revenue in NSW, even larger than stamp duty,” he said.
“The Liberal and Nationals have announced a 15% reduction in payroll tax and a 20% cut in areas of high employment.
“The Coalition will rebuild our economy, put the public interest first and create an environment where we can compete with other States like Queensland.
“We need to make NSW the number one State for doing business and that means reducing workers compensation premiums, cutting payroll tax, Government agencies paying bills on time, fast-tracking infrastructure projects and slashing red tape.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy – we need to ensure we are helping them achieve their full potential so they can continue to grow and provide jobs for our people.”
