Shadow Minister for Small Business, Michelle Rowland has today joined Labor’s candidate for Melbourne, Sophie Ismail to visit local small businesses who don’t want an increased GST hitting consumer spending. 

Speaking with the Lam family, owners of Pho Bo Ga Mekong Restaurant in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, Ms Rowland noted many small business owners know that a hike in the GST will hit confidence and reduce spending.

For small businesses to flourish they need consumers confident and spending, and raising the GST will have the complete opposite effect.

The latest NAB SME survey shows that a lack of consumer demand is the number one constraint on small business profitability and Malcolm Turnbull’s plan to raise the GST will only make this worse.

On top of this, we know that small businesses bear the brunt of GST compliance and any increase or change in the GST will only create another headache for small business owners around the country. 

The fact is, when Malcolm Turnbull looks to expand and increase the GST, Australians will be faced with higher prices and small businesses will suffer. 

FRIDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2015