Who's the victim, Minister?
Bad-mouthing is no substitute for taking action, but the Minister for Small Business John Tamihere knows that well, says
Business NZ.
Chief Executive Simon Carlaw said the Minister's remarks at the launch of the Small Business Days series yesterday were
extraordinary.
"Mr Tamihere's pitch to small businesses certainly needs all the sex appeal available. He knows that thorough and
credible studies such as the Business NZ-KPMG Compliance Cost Survey*, the Massey University study** and others like the
recent Grant Thornton survey not only report the same barriers to growth, but that taking action on issues such as high
taxes, the RMA and other compliance costs is "outside Government policy."
"Mr Tamihere might pause from throwing stones and spell out to small businesses how the Government is helping them by
mandating an extra week's holiday and creating huge complexity over holiday pay, or by bringing in new law that will
make it virtually impossible for small businesses to pay their staff how much and how they want to, or to sell or buy
businesses, or to generally retain the flexibility every small business needs to stay afloat and prosper."