Lindsay Tisch MP
National Party Spokesman for Small Business

26 August 2004

Time will tell if Government listens to small business

National Party spokesman for Small Business Lindsay Tisch says time will
tell if the anti-business Labour Government delivers on the Small Business
Advisory Group annual report.

"The Minister John Tamihere has indicated he is prepared to champion the
recommendations in the report at Cabinet. Only time will tell whether
Labour has the courage to make the environment better for small
businesses."

The advisory group calls for the Government to measure and publish the
accumulative costs of compliance with regulations passed by the
Government in the past 6 months.

"But the Minister dodged that question when he was asked in Parliament
yesterday - we hope that is not an ominous preview of what will happen
with the rest of the report," Mr Tisch says.

"Labour has so far shown no will to improve the climate for small
business. Many of the recommendations made by the advisory group have
previously been rejected or ignored by Mr Tamihere's Cabinet colleagues.

"Proposals like the common commencement dates for business related
regulations and legislation, and the releasing of the cumulative costs and
effects of regulations passed by the Government in the previous six months
are fine ideas.

"As is the suggestion to give more flexibility to employers by way of a
three-month no obligation probation period. That would allow small
businesses to take a chance on those that might otherwise not be employed.

"Unfortunately it's highly unlikely that the present anti-business Labour
Government will agree to any substantive change, especially given the
knee-jerk reaction by Labour's union supporters.

"Action is required on compliance costs, not another talk-fest," says Mr
Tisch.

ENDS

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