Today the Minister for Small Business, Craig Emerson, together with Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, took part in the annual Pollies for Small Business event run by the NSW Business Chamber.

Each year the Pollies for Small Business program sees Members of Parliament from all political parties getting their hands dirty and working in small businesses.

 
There are over 10,000 small businesses in the electorate of Page and today Janelle Saffin and Minister Emerson joined a local kitchenware retailer for a busy morning in Ballina.
 
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and they keep local people employed,” Janelle Saffin said.
 
“The Gillard Labor Government has a strong record on supporting small businesses, especially throughout the Global Financial Crisis.”
 
“Federal Labor has committed to reducing the tax and red tape burden for small business,” Craig Emerson said.
 
“We will allow all small businesses to instantly write off assets costing up to $5,000 from 1 July 2012.
 
Dr Emerson said Tony Abbott’s plan was to deny sole traders, partnerships and companies well-deserved tax relief.
 
“Tony Abbott has confirmed he will scrap Federal Labor’s plan to give small businesses an instant write off for assets,” Craig Emerson said.
 
In Australia, 70 per cent of small businesses are not companies – they are sole traders and partnerships. Mr Abbott’s policy would leave these unincorporated small businesses out in the cold, with no tax relief or simplification.
 
A Gillard Labor Government would also cut the corporate tax rate for small business companies to 29 per cent from 1 July 2012, one year ahead of Tony Abbott’s commitment.
 
 “The Gillard Labor Government’s announcement of tax breaks for small business, and Mr Abbott’s plan to rescind these tax breaks, confirms that Federal Labor is the party which understands small businesses and will continue to support them,” Craig Emerson said.