STEVE MILLS:
In November we are being encouraged to go small, go to a small business for change. I like this initiative Bruce Billson is the Federal Small Business Minister, he probably knows as many know that small business is really the backbone of the economy keeping many families employed. Bruce good morning to you.
BRUCE BILLSON:
Good morning to you Steve and your Perth listeners.
MILLS:
This is an enormous initiative, where did you get it from?
BILLSON:
Well give credit where credit is due. It was actually American Express. They have piolited this in the United States, in the UK and Hong Kong. They thought lets bring it to Australia. I thought I’m all over and all for supporting anything that gets behind those courageous men and women that make small business a crucial part of our economy. We’re asking people in November to shop small. You like the little guys, they offer choice, responsiveness, competition to the big guys. They are the people that give commercial centers the character. Get behind them, put your hard earned in a small business and let them know they are valued and appreciated and are an important part of our economy and our community.
MILLS:
You are right about variety. I hadn’t thought it that way where you go into a shopping center and you see all these shops and often feel for people that are sitting in there, and they must sit for long periods of time, without much trade. Meanwhile they see the big traders doing a roaring trade.
BILLSON:
Yeah look and that the tension. The big guys are very smart. They have got great people working in their businesses and they put a lot of pressure on those on that work with them to try to deliver saving to customers, that’s business, but you need competition. You need the little guy who’s stepping up, keeping the big guys honest. But think about all those great neighbourhoods around Perth and outer-suburbs there, where you have got those strip shopping centers and corner business you like to visit, maybe have a coffee, the local butcher that does speciality cuts and happy to throw a bone in for your dog. These guys are the backbone of our economy. So often they are the ones that get behind the footy clubs, they support local community and give vitality and livelihoods to so many people and we just want to say thank you, we value you. Good on American Express. They are joining with Virgin, NAB, MYOB and other big businesses that work alongside small business to give a spotlight to those small business men and women that are crucial to our economy and our community.
MILLS:
Bruce, being the new Small Business Minister, is this what you hope to do, be more hands on stuff, more direct stuff?
BILLSON:
Yeah look I’m one of those small business people, although I can’t say I succeeded, I’ve got a behemoth of a mortgage to show for my enterprise and know of the glamour of pillow talk about cash flow and about how to pay the next month’s rent. So I have lived that dream if I could put it that way. I’ve got an opportunity to make sure that our nation appreciates that livelihoods, almost half of every private sector job is provided by small business, they are crucial to our economy and they need a strong ally and advocate in Canberra and they have missed that over the last six years. There are now 412,000 fewer people employed in small business than when the Howard Government left office.
MILLS:
They employ a lot of kids, a lot of our spouses etc. I agree with you. I think its time went back and at least had a look. I read with interest that 70 per cent in the lead up to Christmas will buy at least one item online and a lot of that is overseas. Now no doubt price is a key factor there. How do you actually competition with someone who says its alright for you to say this Bruce but if I can buy it online cheaper why would I go to a small business?
BILLSON:
They might be looking to a small business to over them choice and variety or a chance for their family to get a job and if you value small business, like I value small business, like the Abbott Government does and I know you do Steve you have got to put some hard earned into the small businesses to make sure they have got a future, a strong future in our country and in our economy. The best way to do that is get behind them with some business and that’s what this Shop Small month in November is trying to focus on and to consider the long term vitality of our local community. You’ve got to show that support with a bit of hard earned going through their tills, so get behind a small business.
MILLS:
Well done for at least rattling the can Bruce and at least you have drawn peoples attention to think about it and hopefully not only they think about it they do it and we thank you for you time.
BILLSON:
Thanks for yours and your listeners but give those small businesses ago and give them some support as they’re crucial to the vitality of our neighbourhoods and the strength of our economy.