99% of Australian and construction businesses are small and family owned, so it is important that everyone plays by the rules, gets paid on time and can act fairly without unnecessary and ineffective red tape. 

Government must avoid making it harder for small business by ensuring policies are sensible, practical and clear. 

Ensuring Fair & Sensible
Commercial Conduct

Whether it's a house, a new hospital or an existing renovation, all construction is built in carefully planned and timed staged usuing specialist subcontractors such as carpenters, electricians and roofers. The entire industry depends on this system of contracting - builders need subbies to get the work done and subbies need builders to provide and coordinate the work. This is why it's so important for everyone to be fair and reasonable - we strongly believe everyone is entitled to be paid for the work do, in full and on time. 

It's important to resist simple solutions and understand that there's no one single solution because the problem is complex. We want: 

• State and Territory Governments to fix Security of Payment laws so they are more consistent, simple and accessible. 
• Preserve the rights of independent contractors as a legitimate and necessary form of business. 
• Ensure changes Federal procurement laws to actually deliver improved standards of commercial conduct, not just more red tape. 

Dedicated Review Of Existing
Building Industry Red-Tape

Buidling and construction businesses are drowning in red tape and its getting worse. Master Builders wants the Federal Government to: 

• Undertake a genuine and meaningful review of all building and construction regulation and compliance obligations with a view to slashing red tape. 
• Not introduce additional red-tape or burdensome business regulation unless its absolutely necessary. 

Reduce Taxation Burden 

• Reductions in business taxation levels will drive investment and boost jobs. We want the Federal Government to: 
• Permanently increase the deductability threshold for business assets to $30,000 and extend it to all businesses. 

Create A New Independent
Small Business Regulator 

The Federal Government should establish a new independent agency to eliminate the introduction of red-tape and to remove complex rules and unfair one-sided procurement practices that mean small businesses and sub-contractors miss out on Government construction work. This new regulator must: 

• Rigorously test the impact of legisation and regulation on SMEs; and 
• Spearhead changes to make teh Federal Government a 'model procuruer' to ensure projects are made accessible to small business.