Sage’s global study, which surveyed small business owners and their outlooks for 2017, found that only 54 per cent of respondents felt they were adequately represented by politicians.
For 2017, small business owners were most concerned about the lack of business infrastructure (19 per cent), too much government bureaucracy (12 per cent) and taxation rates (11 per cent).
The research comes ahead of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF), which Sage CEO Stephen Kelly is boycotting because small businesses have been “excluded” from the agenda.
“Only too often when the world’s policymakers discuss the global economic picture, small businesses are excluded from the discussion. This is most evident with the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, where small businesses aren’t an item on the agenda,” Mr Kelly said.
“Worse still, 60 per cent don’t even know the event is taking place. It’s crazy when you consider that small businesses create two-thirds of all the jobs in most economies and represent over 98 per cent of all businesses.”
Sage country vice-president Alan Osrin weighed in, saying “governments at all levels cannot ignore the contribution of small businesses and entrepreneurship, with technology being their great enabler”.
“Last year, I was fortunate enough to meet with Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull. I was encouraged by his desire to support small business and reduce red tape, but there is still much to be done,” Mr Osrin said.
“If we are to succeed in a global market, the voice of small business must be heard.”
Fifty-three per cent of survey respondents highlighted export opportunities and grants as being the most urgent issue the government needed to address, followed by improvements to infrastructure (49 per cent) and the tax environment (41 per cent).
