How the Coalition plans to back small business

Small business is the backbone of the Gold Coast economy. Yet under the Albanese Labor Government, the people working hardest to keep our local economy moving are being punished at every turn.

We have more than 80,000 small businesses across the Gold Coast. These are the people who employ locals, support families and sponsor community organisations.

From cafés and bakeries to tradies, retailers and family-run operations – they give our community its character and Australians the opportunity to build something of their own.

But many are now fighting simply to stay afloat.

Instead of backing them, Labor is piling on more taxes, more costs, more red tape and more uncertainty.

Its latest move forces businesses to absorb credit card surcharge costs.

Nobody likes paying a surcharge, but a cost doesn’t disappear just because it’s no longer on the receipt. Every card transaction still costs money to process. That cost must either be absorbed by the business or recovered elsewhere.

For businesses already battling rising electricity bills, insurance, rent, and supplier costs, there is very little room left to absorb anything.

Worse still, the Government then allowed the ATO to announce a ban on credit card payments for tax obligations – stripping businesses of a valuable cash flow management tool.

This is yet another example of a government that simply does not understand how small business operates.

For small businesses, cash flow is not an abstract accounting concept. It can mean the difference between paying staff on time, keeping shelves stocked, meeting supplier invoices, and keeping the doors open.

Revenue fluctuates, but bills and tax obligations don’t wait. Being able to manage the timing of payments with a credit card can make an enormous difference.

Removing that flexibility only adds to the pressure already mounting on our small business community.

I hear these concerns directly from small business owners every day.

Just last week, I spoke with a local bakery owner whose revenue has fallen by 30% while costs have risen by 30%.

Behind those figures is someone who has worked hard to build a business, employ locals and serve the community. Now he now faces the prospect of cutting staff or closing altogether.

Around 30 small businesses are going bust every day under Labor. And when small businesses struggle, the consequences extend far beyond the owner. Jobs, household incomes, and the communities they support are all affected.

That is why the Government’s approach is so frustrating.

Small business owners don’t need lectures or political spin. They need a government that understands the realities of running a business and recognises that every new cost and restriction has consequences.

The Small Business Minister should be standing up for these operators, not defending policies that make their lives harder.

Before imposing changes that affect how businesses manage their money, the Government should listen to those who have to make payroll, pay suppliers and keep the lights on.

That’s why the Coalition has committed to a Small Business Act, ensuring proper consultation when it comes to federal policy affecting them.

The Coalition believes small businesses deserve the opportunity to grow, employ more Australians and build a secure future.

That means reducing unnecessary burdens, supporting aspiration and giving businesses the practical flexibility they need to manage their obligations.

Labor must stop confusing the removal of a visible fee with the removal of a real cost. It must also stop treating small business as an endless source of revenue and a convenient target for its next tax announcement.

Gold Coast small businesses aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking for a fair go, some breathing room, and the chance to get on with the job.

Because when small business succeeds, local workers, families, and communities succeed too.

Only the Coalition can fix the economy and support small business.