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State Govt least popular with small business: survey

The South Australian Government is the least popular state administration with small businesses, a new survey has found.

Feb 06, 2018, updated Feb 06, 2018
Jay Weatherill's administration is the least popular state government with small business. Photo: Jay Weatherill/InDaily

Jay Weatherill's administration is the least popular state government with small business. Photo: Jay Weatherill/InDaily

The Sensis Business Index found a continued decline in small business support for the State Government, with its -30 score the worst in the nation.

Business confidence was a mixed picture in the quarterly survey, with sentiment in metropolitan areas declining but confidence booming in regional South Australia.

Despite a slight decline overall, South Australian business confidence was the second highest recorded in the survey since December 2013.

However, this didn’t help the State Government’s standing with small businesses.

“The State Government continues to trail the rest of the nation,” said Sensis CEO John Allan.

“Small businesses are telling us that poor economic management and high or increasing taxes are the main issues. Whereas, for those who are positive, the government is seen as helpful to small business with incentives, subsidies and grants.”

The South Australian findings for the last quarter showed a marginal increase in sales by small businesses, but a dip in profitability.
Expectations for the coming year were strong and improving for sales, employment, wages and prices, while expectations for capital expenditure were more negative.

The national survey of 1000 small businesses found confidence dipping everywhere except in Tasmania. Nevertheless, confidence was the third highest recorded since March 2011.

The national economy was considered healthier than at any time since 2010 and was expected to remain strong this year.

Support for the Federal Government among SA small businesses rose, but nationally the proportion of respondents saying federal policies were supportive fell, while those saying policies worked against small business increased.

Last week, Deloitte Access Economics’ business outlook report painted a relatively rosy picture of the state economy.

It found that business investment was improving,  small business confidence was at its best since 2013 and the new business survival rate was higher than any other state.

– InDaily

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