Lindsay Tisch MP National Party Spokesman for Small Business

23 January 2004

Rich irony in business visits

"There's rich irony in the visit by Marian Hobbs to a sex gear manufacturer, when this Government has had small business in bondage for so long," says the National Party spokesman for Small Business Lindsay Tisch.

He's commenting on plans by the Wellington Central MP to visit retailer and manufacturer D-Vice on Monday (26 January) as part of a Small Business Day Series.

She claims the stated aim of the public relations exercise is to 'strengthen communication between the Government and small business.' "But that's just laughable after the way the Government completely disregarded the advice of the small business advisory group. "Labour's keeping businesses in bondage, tying them down with red tape suffocating them with compliance costs and flogging them with 17 new taxes.

"It's whipping through union friendly changes to the employment relations act, and crushing small business with extra costs for holidays," Mr Tisch says.

"Why, after four long years, it is only now that the Government decides it's time to start talking with small businesses?

"Why haven't their cries for less red tape, lower taxes and the reform of laws like the RMA, OSH and the Employment Relations Act been heard already?

"Instead what we're getting is an utterly transparent public relations exercise with Ministers talking to a select few.

"And just like the visit by Marian Hobbs to D-Vice - expect plenty more photo opportunities, but businesses gagging for change shouldn't hold their breath for any real action," says Mr Tisch.

Ends

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