Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, says Queensland’s small business community has overwhelmingly endorsed the LNP’s proposal to increase parliamentary terms from 3 to 4 years.

Mr Cripps said a survey of 750 small businesses conducted in October 2015 by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ), resulted in clear support for the LNP’s proposal.

“The CCIQ survey showed two in every three small businesses supported a move from 3 to 4 year terms for the Queensland Parliament, for a range of different reasons” said Mr Cripps.

“For example, 78 per cent of business considered there to be a negative or significantly negative impact on the economy as a result of state elections and campaign periods” he said.

“Furthermore, at least one in two businesses responded that they experience negative impacts on their revenue, profitability, business plan, or business strategy as a result of state elections”.

“Also, 57 per cent of businesses said they recorded lower consumer spending during campaigns, while significant numbers said they were negatively impacted by changes in policies or regulations (47%), or uncertainty about the future of infrastructure projects (42%)”.

Mr Cripps said the LNP had lead the way by encouraging debate on this important political reform, introducing a bill into the Queensland Parliament to facilitate the necessary change.

“The CCIQ believes the introduction of fixed four year terms will deliver greater economic stability and provide the private sector with more certainty, which will facilitate economic growth”.

“After surveying its members, the CCIQ concluded that fixed four year terms would allow business to plan around state elections and make investment decisions with greater confidence”.

“It’s not easy to initiate significant political reform such as this in government and it’s even more difficult to propose it from opposition, but the LNP believed it was time to progress this issue”.

“I hope the Palaszczuk Labor Government and the crossbench and independent MP’s in Queensland’s hung parliament take note of the strong views of our small business community”.

Mr Cripps said the LNP’s proposed legislation was due to be dated in the first half of 2016.

www.cciq.com.au/news/cciq-supports-committee-recommendation-on-fixed-4-year-terms/