A commitment to cut red tape, increase government procurement and reduce costs for small business has been welcomed by the state’s peak business body.

Premier Dominic Perrottet used Business NSW’s second We Mean Business election launch event today to announce that a re-elected Coalition government would commit to a target of 1 million small businesses in NSW by 2030.

Mr Perrottet also promised to create a NSW Red Tape Commissioner, increase NSW Government procurement by $2 billion to $10 billion and offer $1000 to small and micro businesses to engage an expert to offer advice to help grow and expand their business.

The announcement coincides with Mr Perrottet addressing Business NSW members in Parramatta today.

It follows Shadow Treasurer Daniel Mookhey’s address to Business NSW February 1, where he committed to conducting an audit of the state’s manufacturing capability – a key policy for Business NSW members.

He also committed to closely examining Business NSW’s proposal for a $1.3 billion venture capital fund and getting the state’s ballooning workers compensation scheme under control.

Business NSW Executive Director David Harding said the pledges from the government and the opposition show that they are listening to the collective voice of the almost 50,000 members Business NSW represents.

““We thoroughly welcome each of their commitment to a sensible fiscal approach and that they not looking to raise the overall tax burden on business,” Mr Harding said. 

“We’d say to both of them: get rid of payroll tax as much as you can and let’s lower the cost of doing business. Business NSW is calling for payroll tax to be slashed from 5.45 per cent to below 5 per cent, with an increase in the threshold to $1.3 million. 

“So far so good from both of our opening events.”

A survey of 900 businesses released earlier this week revealed 30 per cent of businesses say they will shut if the next NSW Government does nothing about the cost of doing business crisis.

Business NSW is calling for further reform in the areas of housing supply, skilled migration visas and apprenticeship places. 

Mr Harding said both Mr Mookhey and Mr Perrottet also showed a strong commitment to manufacturing.  

“Growing what already is a very strong manufacturing base into something even better is something both the Shadow Treasurer and the Premier focused on,” he said.

“Both also pledged to increase housing supply. A staggering 43 per cent of our members identified housing as a barrier to accessing skilled workers (whether it is availability or affordability).”

Business NSW and our members look forward to seeing what further commitments will be made by both parties ahead of the March 25 election.

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