Eight independent federal MPs have signed a letter to Employment Minister Murray Watt, calling on him to change the definition of "small business" from 15 employees, to at least 25.
A Business Council ranking of states and territories has crowned South Australia the best place in the country to run a business and labelled Victoria the worst. Currently, she said businesses with 20 employees had to abide by the same laws as those with thousands despite not having the same HR staff.In practice, it would mean businesses now classified as "small" could delay implementing right to disconnect laws and wind back unfair dismissal rights so only employees who had been on the books for at least 12 months could apply.
While Mr Watt said the government would consider the ombudsman's review and recommendations, he ruled out further industrial relation changes in this term of parliament. Shadow Employment Minister Michaelia Cash didn't provide comment to the ABC on her standpoint, but Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume has previously said the change was something the Coalition should "consider".Owner of online retailer The Beach People, Victoria Beattie, told the ABC the change would make her "more confident" to hire more permanent staff to grow her business based in northern New South Wales.