Fed: MYOB survey reflects govt's strong management - Bailey

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2007
Fed: MYOB survey reflects govt's strong management - Bailey

CANBERRA, April 24 AAP - Labor and the federal government are squabbling over a small
business survey which, says Labor, shows Work Choices is not working.

The quarterly MYOB survey shows that one in four small businesses intend to take on
new staff in the next 12 months, but almost one in three say they are less likely to employ
new workers because of the new industrial relations regime.

Small Business Minister Fran Bailey said the survey showed small business owners were
very optimistic about their economic prosperity over the next 12 months.

"The Australian government's strong economic management has delivered for small business,
with three quarters of small business operators being very confident about the coming
year and one quarter of small businesses looking to hire new staff," Ms Bailey said.

She said the survey confirmed strong prospects for further job creation in the small
business sector in the next year, particularly in the accommodation, cafe and restaurants
sector, with 44 per cent of employers expecting to increase employee numbers.

Over the past 12 months, 267,000 jobs had been created and the survey indicated the
next 12 months would be even stronger, she said.

"This indicates just how buoyant the economy is, how small business is grasping the
opportunities from their exemption from unfair dismissals and enjoying the prosperity
created by the strong economy," she said.

"The only threat to this jobs growth is the reintroduction of unfair dismissals by
the Labor Party, which will cost Australia jobs and undermine small business confidence."

But Labor said the survey showed that small businesses were not more likely to hire
employees under the government's Work Choices legislation.

The MYOB report showed 30 per cent of those surveyed said they were less likely to
hire under the legislation.

"The prime minister must be very worried that his rhetoric as the best friend of small
business is crumbling," Labor small business spokesman Craig Emerson said.

"The government has categorically stated that Work Choices is unanimously supported
by small business, yet only 18 per cent of employers agreed that they were more likely
to hire under Work Choices. Thirty per cent disagreed - with 19 per cent strongly disagreeing."

He said it was absurd for the government to claim that jobs growth was linked to Work Choices.

AAP cb/mfh/it/bwl

KEYWORD: MYOB LEAD

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