Small business holds little hope for budget relief
SMALL business owners will be watching today’s Federal Budget closely, hoping for any tax relief on the horizon.
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SMALL business owners will be watching today's Federal Budget closely, hoping for any tax relief on the horizon.
Andrew Shaw is a director of CQ Diesel Fitting, a local business of about 60 staff which specialises in equipment repair, from mining to light vehicles.
Mr Shaw said he didn't have confidence in the government's economics.
"If we ran our business the way the government runs the country, we would be broke," he said.
Deutsche Bank recently published survey results from Mapping the World's Prices 2013, which showed Australia ranked as most expensive in the cost of many goods and services.
The rising cost of everything from rent to even re-stocking office kitchens has affected local business.
"Each month you're looking at somewhere you have to trim (to balance business costs)," Mr Shaw said.
But he's not surprised the Federal Government won't deliver a surplus.
"I couldn't see how they could actually reach a surplus without starving half the nation."
Earlier this week it was announced tax cuts linked to the carbon tax would be deferred.
CQ Diesel Fitting co-owner Ian Corney said he wasn't sure yet how much the carbon tax was affecting his business.
"Only that it affects everything," he said. "Soon as you tax something, it all continues down the line."
Mr Corney is particularly concerned about measures that will cause more expense to business.
"There should be some sort of incentive to drive that, to encourage businesses to get larger and employ more people," he said.
But Mr Corney said people shouldn't expect too much of the Federal Government.
"I think often in Australia, people expect the government to fix this and that. (But) money has to come from somewhere."
Originally published as Small business holds little hope for budget relief
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