Federal Election 2025
- secretary0060
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
BLOG: Small Business at the Crossroads – What’s at Stake in the 2025 Federal Election
As Australians head to the polls on 3 May 2025, the future of small business is firmly in the spotlight. With over 97% of all businesses in Australia classified as small, they are the lifeblood of our economy and local communities — especially in regional areas like Somerset. But small business owners are facing growing challenges, and this election presents an opportunity to push for real change.
Key Issues Facing Small Business in 2025:
Workforce Shortages – Regional businesses continue to struggle to attract and retain skilled workers. Policy reform around training, migration, and incentives for rural employment is urgently needed.
Red Tape & Regulation – Compliance costs and complex regulations disproportionately affect small operators. Streamlining processes and reducing bureaucratic barriers must be a national priority.
Telecommunications Reliability – As seen recently in Kilcoy, full outages during infrastructure upgrades can cripple business and endanger lives. Connectivity and redundancy in regional areas must be improved.
Energy Costs & Certainty – Rising energy prices and the shift toward renewables without adequate support are impacting operating costs. Regional areas need investment in energy storage and grid resilience.
Disaster Recovery Support – Small businesses often lead local recovery efforts but receive delayed or insufficient government support. Faster, tailored assistance is vital.
Access to Finance & Growth Opportunities – Many small businesses are locked out of fair lending and scalable support. Investment in regional entrepreneurship and innovation is needed.
As candidates for the Federal seat of Blair make their case to voters, small business owners and operators must ask: Who will deliver genuine support, practical reform, and a fair go for small business in regional Australia?
Make your voice count. Vote informed. Vote for your future.
