The budget offers nothing for NZ’s forgotten majority

Media Release (For immediate release)

26 May 2017

The budget offers nothing for New Zealand’s forgotten majority

Yesterday, Steven Joyce released his first budget. Commentators have dubbed it a convenient “lolly scramble” leading up to September’s election. Max Whitehead, Chief Operating Office for Small Business Voice, has an alternative view.

“There is absolutely nothing in the budget for small-to-medium sized business,” says Mr Whitehead. “This is despite them numbering more than 487,000 and being the most productive sector in our economy.”

Mr Whitehead says that SMEs (businesses that employ less than 20 people) comprise 97% of all New Zealand enterprises and are responsible for 29% of the workforce.

SMEs consist of Kiwi battlers who put their necks on the line to create jobs, says Mr Whitehead. However, he says, instead of giving them a helping hand, the Government offers nothing more than promises of more compliance requirements and restrictive legislation.

“They {the Government} seem intent of wrenching as many dollars from the pockets of SMEs as possible. This will have a huge impact on our economy and people’s wellbeing. I’m afraid to say that SMEs have become New Zealand’s forgotten majority.”

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