Setback for Labor with small and medium-sized Qld businesses to vote for LNP at October election

Small and medium-sized businesses are unhappy with the Queensland Government and the upcoming state election could prove it.

The Queensland Government could be facing a major defeat at the October state election, according to the results of a new survey.

The latest Sensis Business Index, released on Tuesday, found 54 per cent of small and medium-sized business owners surveyed in Queensland would vote for the Liberal National Party if a vote was held tomorrow.

Just 26 per cent of operators indicated they would support Labor.

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington is in the box seat for the upcoming state election when it comes to the voting preferences of small and medium-sized business operators. Picture: Glenn Hunt

In more bad news for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the survey also found 18 per cent, or almost one in five, of Queensland business owners believed the government’s policies worked against small business.

It was the second-worst result in the country, behind Victoria.

While 48 per cent of operators thought the state government was supportive of small business, this was also one of the worst-performing results when compared to other jurisdictions such as Tasmania, which recorded a 62 per cent approval rating.

LNP deputy leader Tim Mander said the feedback from small and medium-sized business owners was a major vote of no confidence in the premier and her team.

Businesses have been struggling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Picture: Jono Searle

“Business confidence is at rock bottom levels under Annastacia Palaszczuk and it’s been that way for quite some time,” she said.

“Before coronavirus, Queensland had the worst unemployment rate in the nation and nothing has changed.”

RELATED: The Sensis Business Index found one in eight Melbourne businesses may not reopen after its COVID-19 lockdown ends.

The latest report is based on 1015 online interviews conducted with small and medium-sized business operators or managers between July 29 and August 5.