Media | State News

Labor's ransom on small business cash flows

21st September 2018

The Palaszczuk Labor Government is using Queensland small businesses as their bank by failing to pay them on time, the LNP has said.

It was revealed yesterday that the cash flow of many Queensland small businesses are being held ransom by the hypocritical Palaszczuk Labor Government.

"Labor's has been silent about the many Queensland Government departments which still have unacceptably high rates of late payments,” Ms Simpson said.

“17.2% for the Department of Education has and 8.98% for the Department of Agricultural, in the last quarter alone is simply unacceptable.

"In the latest available information for the Department of Environment and Science, an incredible $13.5 million worth of late payments were made from January to March this year.

"It is astonishing just how out of touch Shannon Fentiman is.

"She is more than happy to lecture others about small business late payments, yet she has done very little to keep her own house in order.

"After 15 years of Labor's mismanagement, the LNP introduced the Queensland Government Late Payment policy in 2013.

"The policy aimed to get small businesses that do business with the government paid within 30 calendar days.

"Government works best when it leads by example, not by self-righteous lecturing.

"We announced in May that an LNP Government would back small businesses to help them grow, invest and succeed by committing to introduce faster payments.

"The LNP has committed to paying small businesses for government contracts within 20 calendar days for contracts up to $1 million.

"Labor and Shannon Fentiman should adopt our policy and lead by example."