A sweet deal for small business

Evan Findlay says:

06:49pm | 29/01/10

Similiar to the good fortunes of the Howard Government.

Carinthia says:

07:04pm | 28/01/10

There are some great small business stories out there. I work with a lot of them and have seen successes in startups despite the economy. Nice story Maxine but for heaven’s sake leave out the Labor party advert. Gena is obviously a savvy businesswoman who knows her market and her business. Yes she has taken advantage of the tax breaks, but we don’t need Kev’s handouts rammed down our throats every time you open your mouth or put fingers to keyboards.

Dave says:

04:36pm | 28/01/10

Nice spin Maxy

Phil says:

04:26pm | 28/01/10

Maxine

I am no glad you enjoy some cakes and chocolates. The sugar high is just what Kevin provided just over a year ago. Trouble is that with the highs come the lows and many voters sugar levels are now at hypo levels.

There was no low GI impact in your stimulus just RED BULL.

Your lot is now after inviting everyone to a party about to split the bill come the end of it and ask all Australians to cough up for your utter wastage of the cash.

You are a joke. If it was not for your husband you would not have even got preselection.

How you can live with yourself after the fraud the labor party spun the Australian People is mindblowing.

Brian says:

04:12pm | 28/01/10

Maxine McWho? Gone next election.

BULMKT says:

02:56pm | 28/01/10

You want to help small business?

Then GET RID OF FBT!

Any Business with less than $2m turnover should be exempt.

Daz says:

02:46pm | 28/01/10

The fiscal stimulus was a giant sugar hit. Marshmallows are the perfect metaphor. The trouble with a sugar hit is that a low inevitably follows. Now as inflation starts to bite and rates rise and all the debt servicing begins, the low will be borne for years and years and years.

Labor never have quite figured out that if you are going to buy marshmallows on borrowed money, someone has to pay it back.

Henry Ackroyd says:

02:24pm | 28/01/10

Maxine… care to explain how a tax break on capital infrastructure will help a very new small business in times of a contracting economy?  Cash flow is her biggest problem!  An increase in investment in capital infrastructure means net outflows!  This is a trap many businesses fall into.  CAPEX should be done in good times not in times of tight cashflow.  Tax cuts or breaks with no-strings were what was needed but once again the ALP has shown it has not a clue where finance is concerned.  I wonder how many small businesses feel into the ‘cheap capex’ trap and have now actually sped up their demise…  As for taking credit for the good health of the Aussie economy - you are hilarious!  It was 100% Peter Costello.  Have some integrity.

Bruce says:

12:43pm | 28/01/10

Regarding the “Small Busines and “general business tax breaks before December 31”. The benefit is neutral or marginal. Make sure you check with your accountant, its not as good as you think, and there maybe better business structures for your business.

Gordy of Orange says:

11:56am | 28/01/10

Maxine,
You didn’t need to write anything after the 1st sentence - it said it all. Just a labor party campaign advertisment - to think that you actually had the gall to call yourself a journalist in a previous life.

As others have said - you had absolutely nothing to do with this other than stuffing your face with marshmallows (unless you are moonlighting in the Treasurers office).

I wish Gena well now that you have politicized her business - plenty of swinging voters in Benelong that may not be so chuffed with you and Kevvie.

How about actually doing something for your community for a change - then again, you will probably be a one termer so no real need.

Jack Thomas says:

10:57am | 28/01/10

I am perplexed.

An ABC hack is set up into a seat by her Labor heavyweight hubbie, then sits around while her portfolio (Child Care) goes up in flames, lets the Liquidators sort it out, does nothing whatsoever on child care, including following up on more of Rudd’s hollow broken promises, then writes a bit of fluff about life being a box of chocolates.

The economy scraped through by a mix of luck, inheriting a $22 billion war chest and a well regulated banking system and a resource-based economy chugging through a continued resource boom. 

Apparently it’s all due to the Brownies. Not so much out of touch, as out of her little mind.

Jeff says:

10:55am | 28/01/10

I bet the lattes are great at Gina’s to

Darren says:

10:46am | 28/01/10

Oh Maxine, what would you like a “Meda"l or a chest to pin it on? Your articles are always the same, first half is a cute little story, second half is congratulating yourself and your Government.

Ben says:

09:08am | 28/01/10

Maxine a very clever piece.
I imagine this sort of fluffy dross goes down a treat with those latte sipping Bennelong types - no doubt they we nodding their heads asa they enjoyed a leisurely breakfast while the union and employer stereotypes got trotted out yet again by as the apparatchiks shape up for an election year.

Charles says:

08:41am | 28/01/10

MM gives herself the usual pat on the back that she has come to expect from herself.  It must be difficult to aspire to even higher levels of self-praise every day that you get up.

In respect of the tax break for working assets that was in effect last year, it wasn’t a bad idea, although a lot of people took advantage of it that really only did it because it was available, and not out of any necessity. 

All things have a cost though, and this will be reflected in lower revenue by the Commonwealth over the next 4-5 years as the effects of this high speed depreciation of assets work their way through the economy.

This will result in either the government reducing spending on essential services such as education, health and infrastructure, or even more government debt resulting in higher inflation.

So, if indeed you are taking responsibility for this MM, then thanks for nothing.

Lucie says:

08:01am | 28/01/10

There is one thing about you guys in the Labor Government, your all very good at patting yourselves on the back. That is all your article is about. Australia was helped sail through the GFC, because you inherited one of the best economy’s in the world just over 2 years ago. Rudd did nothing but what any other country in the world did regarding stimulus. Except he went overboard playing santa, now has no idiea how to pay it back, except by trying to introduce your ETS. Stop congratulating yourselves Maxine, Australians are getting tired of hearing it.  Action speaks better than words, tell your boss that will you.

pete says:

07:55am | 28/01/10

As far as I can tell, you had little to do with it, apart from buying goods. her popularity is a result of forward planning, market research and actually delivering what she had planned to in the first place.

Sort of the opposite of what the ALP is currently doing, would’nt you say?  The only “puff” in this piece, is the hot air from a politician, or has your government run out of…...“puff”

yes I’m a disenchanted voter, watching someone who was voted in to office by my fellow voters write a “puff” piece instead of doing her job and being concerned with the national interest.

Karen says:

07:46am | 28/01/10

We kept the confidence in the economy. At the start of 2010, it means that life is sweet for Gena, her employees and her customers!
Until we have to pay all this stimulus back with higher interest rates, you forget to mention. Has Kevin decidied how we’re going to get back out of debt yet? It doesn’t look like he’ll be able to do it with his ETS/TAX anymore.

Sam of Sydney says:

06:11am | 28/01/10

Yeah it is a puff piece,
Let me take your Marshmellow metaphor a bit further (but in the form of a simile), The Rudd Marshmellow is a sweet vote winner, but does not have any nutritional value whatsoever. The stimulus package has put the nation in more debt than ever before, and will force a slower recovery than other nations, so that in 5 years time Australian will once again be the Basket Case of Asia, do you want to take Credit for that as well - Australia’s economic decline in Real Terms, especially with no ETS to pay off the Tax.

steve parker says:

05:49am | 28/01/10

Sure - tell that to many of the small business employees in the southern suburbs of Adelaide struggling to keep their family and mortgage afloat on three quarter hours and pay ....... and you have the nerve to write this sort of rubbish. Sure the employment figures are steady - but what you miss in the dodgy distorted figures put out by your and previous Government is the real state of play and the reality of what is taking place in the workplace and homes. Life is sweet - maybe in your leafy Sydney suburb - you have to be joking - you astonish me.

stephen says:

05:19am | 28/01/10

Yes, nice story, and I expect a lot of happy small business men and women
are pleased so far with the general business environment.
Labor’s looking good, and we hope for a happy ending.

Wayne Hutchins says:

04:38am | 28/01/10

Maybe you should tell that to the 21,507 Business’s that went bust between Jan and Sep 09 (last quarter figures not available yet, they can’t count that high)
You are right in saying it’s a puff piece.