THE letter by Jim McAvoy of the Banksia Cafe (Costs soaring, Gazette, July 24) is one of the best letters I've read on the cost burdens placed on small business by Government.
Of course small business cannot fight back. They either reduce staff and services or go out of business.
Other costs include tax compliance in collecting GST and complex financial statements dictated by a 10,000-page Federal Tax Act. (The Singapore Tax Act is 400 pages). Accountancy fees are often in five figures.
Full-time staff entitlements when totalled are equivalent to three months paid leave.
Local government and property developers force small business to sign draconian 100-page leases rather than offer a range of strata titles to allow them the option of owning the premises.
The Federal Government does in fact own and operate a business. It is called Australia Post, which is a statutory monopoly with the minister the sole shareholder.
The long queues and high postal costs indicate that Australia Post is inefficient and uncompetitive.