NZ in the eye of compliance cost storm

”New Zealand is merely in the eye of a compliance cost storm,” says the National Party spokesman for Small Business Lindsay Tisch, in response to the latest KPMG/Business New Zealand survey on compliance costs.

“Better than bad is still not good.”

According to the report, small businesses are hardest hit by compliance issues, which cost nearly $3,000 per worker per year compared with $500 for companies that have more than 100 staff.

“The Labour Government is showing no mercy to small operators.

“While the report suggests a slight improvement overall - the starting point for comparisons is only last year, a particularly bad year when businesses were loaded with new compliance costs.

“The forecast is for another spike next year, when the union movement gets further rewards for loyally supporting Labour and the full costs of implementing the Holidays Act are quantified.

“The report highlights tax, followed by employment related legislation as most in need of change - yet the Government steadfastly refuses to move on tax, and it’s unlikely to make significant change to employment law either.

“And given that small businesses see tax as critical, it’s hardly surprising that John Tamihere moved to stop his Small Business Advisory Group from talking about it,” says Mr Tisch.

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