Business warning to Shorten over taxs cuts

Tasmanian businesses have warned Bill Shorten he faces a backlash in the Braddon by-election over tax cuts.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Liberal candidate Brett Whiteley at his official campaign launch for the Braddon by-election.

Tasmanian businesses have warned Bill Shorten he faces a backlash in the Braddon by-election over his plan to repeal legislated tax cuts for small and medium-sized businesses.

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will today launch a new campaign to make small business a central issue in the crucial Super Saturday poll, with a checklist for voters to assess the policies of major parties.

The first item is “no repeal of legislated tax cuts for small business”, which the Opposition Leader is already on course to breach, with his pledge to axe a scheduled tax cut to 25 per cent for firms with a turnover under $50 million.

Labor also faces a black mark from business for its plan to restore penalty rates cut by the workplace umpire, with the chamber calling for parties to honour decisions of the Fair Work Commission.

But Labor is ahead of the Coalition on another chamber demand — a cabinet spot for a small-business minister. Labor’s small-business portfolio is held by frontbencher Chris Bowen, while Malcolm Turnbull’s Small Business Minister Craig Laundy is in the outer ministry.

Chamber chief executive Michael Bailey said the organisation was apolitical, but “businesses are telling us they want that tax cut; that it’s really important for them”.

“There is concern because business likes certainty,” he said.

The campaign follows campaign launches by both major parties in the northwest Tasmanian seat yesterday.

Mr Turnbull told voters in Wivenhoe, near Burnie, that Mr Shorten and Labor’s “former dual citizen” candidate Justine Keay had “a long list of grievances” but no plan to help business.

“Not a word about encouraging people to get ahead to invest, to grow a business and to seek, to aspire, to achieve, to have a vision for greater opportunities in the years ahead,” the Prime Minister said.

He said business tax cuts would assist 8700 family-owned businesses in Braddon.

“We want those businesses to be able to compete and win. But they obviously need a competitive tax rate,” Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Shorten was back in the seat following a two-day visit last week, when he faced a disappointingly small audience at a business lunch in Devonport. However, a business breakfast the following day in Burnie sold out.

He said 6600 businesses in Braddon would be able to access Labor’s proposed investment guarantee policy, offering immediate 20 per cent write-offs on investments of more than $20,000. “We are the party who will look after working people and their employers in the electorate of Braddon,” he said.

Mr Turnbull promised voters $60m to upgrade the Bass Highway and $10m more to upgrade the Murchison Highway. Both commitments will go ahead no matter who wins the election.