Small business attacks Turnbull for axing Billson

The small business lobby has raised concerns about Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull booting Small Business minister Bruce Billson from Cabinet.

It’s even suggesting the PM might be listening to the big end of town,

Peter Strong, the chief executive officer of the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA), said he was shocked by Mr Billson’s demotion.

“There is no doubt that the decision to remove Bruce Billson from the Cabinet and the Small Business Ministry has sent a shockwave through the Small Business community,’’ Mr Strong said.

“A great Minister doing a fabulous job, who has received intense praise from Small Business for his measurable level of success is no longer in the job.

“Did vested interests in big business successfully have Bruce removed because he created fairness?”

Mr Strong’s comments follow a survey of Smart Company readers last week which found that 43 per cent said they wanted the PM to keep Billson in the small business portfolio.

COSBOA has been a strong supporter of the effects test, a more stringent protection for small business law championed by Mr Billson which was fiercely resisted by big business. Following last week’s deal between Mr Turnbull and the Nationals, the effects test is back on the agenda after it was put on hold indefinitely by the Abbott Government.

Mr Strong said COSBOA looked forward to working with the new small business minister Kelly O’Dwyer who would “continue the great work started by Bruce Billson and resist the misinformation campaigns run by some vested groups.”

Source: Business First Magazine    Leon Gettler   22nd September 2015