Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has told a local business event that the Albanese Labor Government stands ready to support the business community in Ipswich following several difficult years.

Mr Neumann was speaking at the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce & Industry Business Expo held at the Ipswich Showgrounds on Thursday, along with Queensland Minister for Small Business Di Farmer, State Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard and Ipswich Deputy Mayor Jacob Madsen.

He said he and the new Federal Government wanted to work with the Queensland Government, Ipswich City Council and local business groups like the Ipswich Chamber to provide confidence and certainty to the small business community.

“The Albanese Labor Government will ensure businesses have certainty in times of crisis, are paid on time, and don’t have to deal with unnecessary red tape and transaction costs.

“Small business is the lifeblood of our local economy, and delivers jobs and services to the Ipswich region, so we need to do everything we can to support them.

“Local businesses in the region have been doing it tough for the last few years thanks to issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ipswich CBD redevelopment and recent floods.

“Over the past six months, the Queensland Government, alongside small business, had pleaded with the former Morrison Government for more support in the face of these challenges.

“That is why the new Labor government will deliver a targeted plan to ensure small businesses are no longer left in the lurch in times of crisis, and we do more to build their capacity and resilience,” Mr Neumann said.

Labor’s better deal for small business will:

• Ensure small businesses are paid on time to sustain growth across the economy with a mechanism to ensure payment within 30 days.
• Drive a genuine collaboration with small businesses and government to reduce the time small businesses spend doing taxes.
• Draw on Labor’s history of working with unions, workers and industry to deliver better outcomes with settings that are simpler, more accessible, and fair.
• Reduce small business transaction costs at the point of payment with a clear timeline for implementing least cost routing or similar. This could save businesses up to $804 million a year in merchant fees.

Mr Neumann said Labor’s better deal for small business would assist the more than 9,000 small businesses in Ipswich and the Somerset Region, and the 2.4 million small businesses across Australia and the millions working in them across Australia.

“Speaking to small businesses across my electorate, I know they are crying out for skilled workers and for more support and Labor’s plan will deliver that.

“This is why the Albanese Government plans to tackle crippling skills shortages with free TAFE, more university places and skills in schools.

“The Government will also protect small businesses from scams, deliver more opportunities for small business through government procurement and support young entrepreneurs to start micro-businesses with a start-up year.

“Many of Labor’s key commitments will be good for business – like boosting workforce participation through stronger Medicare and cheaper childcare, investing in local industries and jobs, rebuilding the NBN and mobile phone coverage, and tackling climate change and power prices through renewable energy.

“As a former business owner myself, I know Labor is the party of small business and has a plan for securing their growth and supporting aspiration.

“Labor’s plan will make sure that no small business in our region is left behind or held back,” Mr Neumann said.