The Prime Minister’s own department has revealed that Julia Gillard rarely concerns herself with small business issues, further demonstrating the Gillard Government’s neglect of the sector.
Asked whether the Prime Minister has met with the inaugural Small Business Commissioner Mark Brennan, a representative from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet retorted that the Prime Minister’s focus is on the “priority issues of the day”.
“Small business issues don’t often come up in terms of issues that are before the Prime Minister or before the Cabinet and I guess our focus of resource tends to focus on those issues that are before the PM or the Cabinet. So I guess we would move our resources in accordance with the priorities,” Marie Taylor, first assistant secretary, industry, infrastructure and environment division, told the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee on Monday evening.
Ms Taylor herself said she is not dealing with Mr Brennan in his new capacity and indicated she had not been instructed to do so.
Senator Scott Ryan, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition and the Deputy Chair of the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee, indicated the small business community had been led to believe the role of Small Business Commissioner would be treated in a similar way to that of the Chief Scientist; that is, to provide high-level advice to the Prime Minister.
But Ms Taylor rejected this assertion.
“Our understanding of the role of Small Business Commissioner in terms of his work is through the relevant minister for small business. For instance I understand he will be providing some ongoing work in relation to regulatory impacts on small business and how those impacts might be reduced. That advice as I understand it will be going to COAG via the Minister for Small Business,” Ms Taylor said.
Shadow Small Business Minister Bruce Billson said small business was a sector that was doing it particularly tough with families spending less and less because of cost of living pressures.
“Small business employs almost half the private sector yet for some reason the Prime Minister doesn’t think it’s a sector worth her time,” Mr Billson said.
“It’s little wonder only 6 per cent of small business people think the Gillard Government is doing a good job.
“There has been no ministerial presence or priority given to small business with four ministers in 14 months, but now we also know it is not priority for the Prime Minister.”
Senator Ryan said this confirmation that the Prime Minister isn’t interested in small business would not be well received.
“This is a kick in the guts for Australia’s hard-working small businesses. Not only has the Labor Government refused to legislate any specific powers for the Small Business Commissioner, now we have a Prime Minister who won’t even sit down for coffee with him,” Senator Ryan said.