IR reform, lower power prices key to PM's small business pitch

Andrew Tillett, Matthew Cranston and John Kehoe

Apr 23, 2019 – 4.40pm

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Small business groups, economists and banks warned Prime Minister Scott Morrison that without serious industrial relations reform, lower power prices and enhanced access to finance, his "ambitious" target to create 250,000 small businesses over the next five years is unlikely to succeed.

Mr Morrison committed to the target in a campaign pitch to the Liberals' traditional small business base as he unveiled a proposed $1 billion equity fund for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), seeded by a $100 million of government money.

Andrew Tillett writes on politics, foreign affairs, defence and security from the Canberra press gallery.

Matthew Cranston is the United States correspondent, based in Washington. He was previously the Economics correspondent and Property editor.

John Kehoe is economics editor at Parliament House, Canberra. He writes on economics, politics and business. John was Washington correspondent covering Donald Trump’s first election. He joined the Financial Review in 2008 from Treasury.