Small businesses in Western Australia are most critical of Federal Government policies with 17% saying they were not supportive of small business – the highest discontent of any state.
According to the November Sensis Business Index, 13% of small businesses overall believed the Morrison Government policies were working against them. 22% said they were having no impact and 53% said the policies were supportive.
When it came to their own government only 8% said the Western Australian policies of Premier Mark McGowan worked against small business with 49% supportive and 25% saying they had no impact.
Sensis CEO John Allan said that with small business making up 97% of all businesses in the country it is important that both federal and state government policies were supportive.
“Obviously it is hard to please all businesses, but during the pandemic SMBs were looking for leadership from both levels of government'” he said.
“Interestingly businesses were more critical of the Federal Government and in the main were more supportive of their state government.”
The survey is of 500 business owners/managers across all states and across 10 business sectors. It was conducted by data insights platform Glow in the first weeks of November. 25% of the businesses survey had 50 employees or more and 59% of businesses had been operating for more than 10 years.
15% of Victorian businesses believe the Federal Government policies are not supportive of small business. Just 48% say they are supportive and 26% said they had no impact. When it came to its own government, 20% said Andrews Government policies worked against small business with 47% supportive and 23% saying no impact.
68% of ACT businesses said the Federal Government policies were supportive of small business – a figure higher than any other state. However, when it came to judging the ACT Government’s performance business went the other way with a state high 27% saying the policies worked against small business.
59% of Queensland businesses said the Federal Government’s policies were supportive with just 9% saying they worked against small businesses and 19% saying no impact. When it came to its own state, 21% said Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk policies worked against small business, 40% said they were supportive and 25% said it had no impact.
Tasmanian businesses were very supportive of Premier Peter Gutwein’s Government policies with just 2% saying his policies worked against small business. 63% said the policies were supportive. No other state had such high support with South Australia next at 52%. From a Federal Government perspective, just 5% of Tasmanians said policies worked against small business with 58% saying they were supportive.
South Australians were pretty even across the board whether on a State or Federal level. 15% said the Federal Government worked against them and 14% said Premier Steve Marshall’s Government worked against them. 53% said the Federal Government was supportive and 52% said the Marshall Government was supportive.
NSW figures were also pretty much aligned whether it was state or national. 12% said the Morrison Government policies worked against small business and 14% said Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s Government did the same. 52% said the Federal Government was supportive and 49% said the NSW Government was supportive of small business.
Release Ends
About the November Sensis Business Index
The Sensis Business Index is Australia’s longest running survey of its kind having been established in 1995. The November 2020 SBI involved 508 business owners/managers.
· 20% had 1 to 2 employees with 25% having 50 employees or more.
· 59% of businesses had been operating for more than 10 years.
· 7% of respondents were aged 30 or under, 20% aged 31-40, 24% aged 41 to 50, 22% 51 to 60 and 26% 60 and over. 50% were male and 50% female.
· It was conducted via data insights platform Glow.
Ten industries were covered:
· Wholesale
· Health & Community Services
· Cultural and Recreational Services
· Manufacturing
· Transport/Storage
· Communications, Property and Business Services
· Construction/Building
· Retail trade
· Accommodation/Cafes/Restaurants
· Finance and Insurance
