Government gloss 'worn off', say SMEs

MYOB's bi-annual business monitor survey, a national survey of more than 1,000 SMW owners, revealed that the gloss has well and truly worn off the government in the eyes of Australian business.

"The results tell two stories," said MYOB. "On the one hand, the government remains far more popular amongst SMEs than its predecessor. However, on the other, as the government lobbies for pre-election support from this crucial business sector, dissatisfaction levels in the past six months have increased."

Other key findings from the survey included:

• 32 per cent of SMEs feel dissatisfied with support from the federal government;
• 20 per cent of SMEs are satisfied with the federal government support, down from 30 per cent last October;
• Millenial business owners reported dissatisfaction levels of 22 per cent, compared to 37 per cent for Baby Boomers;
• 68 per cent of SMEs said making the $20,000 instant asset write-off a permanent policy was the number one initiative they would vote for; and
• 57 per cent of SMEs would vote for an incentive bonus for businesses employing people over age 50.