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Small business MANIFESTO
There
are 1.1 million small businesses in
Australia
employing 3.3 million people. These businesses are critically important to the
health of our economy and the well-being of local communities.
However,
small businesses are trapped in an economic and political no-man’s land,
caught between the anti-competitive culture of big business and the
anti-enterprise culture of trade unions. Being diverse and fragmented, small
firms lack a strong, unified voice. Politically, they lack the direct
sponsorship of the two major parties whose prior allegiance is to big business
and trade unions respectively.
Socially, small
businesses are vitally important to local communities. Their social contribution
has long been ignored by social policy makers.
The Centre for Civil Society has developed this draft Small Business Manifesto as a call to action and
a campaign tool for the small business sector in the lead up to this year's
federal election.
The
draft will be
discussed at a Small Business Forum on 28 March in Melbourne.
DRAFT SMALL BUSINESS MANIFESTO
This Small Business
Manifesto is a call to action and a campaign tool for the small business sector.
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1.
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Remove
all federal and state restrictions on the right of small businesses to
collectively negotiate with suppliers, acquirers and franchisors.
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2.
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Increase
the land tax threshold to $1,000,000.
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3.
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Strengthen
the Trade Practices Act to require a forced divestiture of assets in any
firm controlling more than 50% of market share in any domestic market.
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4.
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Exempt family members working in
family businesses from employment laws, and remove the requirement for
police checks on young family members.
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5.
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Restrict
licensing fees for all business activities to cost-recovery rates so as to
prevent licensing fees from being used as revenue-raising instruments for
governments.
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6.
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Strengthen
the Trade Practices Act provisions dealing with anti-competitive
behaviour, predatory pricing, price fixing and collusive behaviour.
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7.
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Consolidate
all employment on-costs for businesses employing less than 20 people into
an (optional) single monthly payment made to one entity – a Small Business
Employment Agency (a state-based
office) to be subsequently distributed to
appropriate federal and state agencies.
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8.
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Abolish
all commercial stamp duties and all other business taxes (except for land
and payroll tax).
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9.
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Reduce
fees for use of card payment systems by small businesses employing less
than 20 people by requiring this reduction be written into the terms of
bank licenses.
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10.
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Strengthen the Franchising Code of
Conduct to provide additional protections for franchisees including
acceptance of ‘class-type’ actions against franchisors.
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11.
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Ensure long-term workforce flexibility for small businesses
employing less than 20 people by establishing community-based labour
supply social enterprises which take responsibility for and meet the
compliance obligations of employment in small firms, while developing the
skills, career planning and social aspirations of employees.
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12.
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Establish
a Small Business Advocate as an independent public statutory office to
improve the regulatory environment for small business and reduce
compliance costs.
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Comments
on the draft Manifesto are welcome and should be sent to Vern Hughes by
email
or on 0425 722 890.
HOW
TO BECOME INVOLVED
We will use the Manifesto in developing a major campaign in support
of small business in the lead up to this year's federal election. Fill in the online form
below if you wish to be involved..
We will aim to get every MP around the country to push
for implementation of the points in this Manifesto, and we will monitor their efforts in
doing so (as well as their parties).
CLICK
HERE to fill in our small business survey.
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Comments
on the Manifesto and the campaign are welcome and should be sent to Vern Hughes by
email
or on 0425 722 890.
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©
Centre for Civil Society 2007 |
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PARENTS
FAMILIES AND CARERS |
CLICK HERE
for further information.
In Control EOI
CLICK HERE
for details. |
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AGM SEASON |
Making a difference in our
not-for-profits.
CLICK HERE for further
information. |
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VOLUNTEERS UNION |
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CLICK HERE
for further information. |
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COMMUNITY BUILDING |
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CLICK
HERE for further information. |
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THIRD WAY FORUM |
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CLICK HERE for further
information. |
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ASSEMBLY |
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in each federal electorate (150 electorates around Australia) to
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CLICK HERE to
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Charter for National Action
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Family Carers
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