Would One Nation’s Policies Hurt Small Businesses?

One Nation and Pauline Hanson are getting attention and are performing very well in the polls. So - are One Nation's policies good for small business?

Many small business owners share some of the frustrations that One Nation expresses. They worry about rising energy costs, excessive regulation, housing affordability and government waste. These are legitimate concerns.

But legitimate concerns do not automatically lead to good policy – the major parties have shown that time and time again. Successful economies are built on trust, cooperation and confidence. As much as the major parties need to step up a rung or two backing an extreme group might not be such a good thing.

Supporting small business means understanding how businesses actually survive and grow, and many of One Nation’s policies show a lack of understanding. Even though the majors have let the small business community down – they haven’t destroyed it.

The first problem created by One Nation is uncertainty. Small businesses invest when they have confidence in the future. They employ staff, buy equipment and sign leases because they believe tomorrow will be better than today. Constant political campaigns built around fear - whether about immigration, international trade or Australia’s institutions - creates uncertainty. Uncertainty inhibits investment and discourages the everyday person from buying as much as they usually do.

Many small businesses rely on skilled migrants when local labour can't be found. Many of these businesses are also started by migrants who arrive with little more than determination and a willingness to work extraordinary hours – it’s always been thus. They open restaurants, transport companies, technology firms, manufacturers and retail stores. They create jobs rather than take them.

Reducing migration dramatically may sound attractive in a slogan, but the reality is very different. Australia’s labour market is already tight in many sectors. Abattoirs are a good example. Across regional Australia, meat processors have long relied on migrant workers because local labour simply has not been available in sufficient numbers. Without those workers, processing slows, farmers cannot get stock processed on time, exports suffer and dozens of small businesses in the supply chain - from transport operators to machinery repairers and local cafés - feel the impact.

The same is true in hospitality, aged care, disability support, horticulture, construction and tourism. Small builders struggle to find tradespeople. Restaurants reduce opening hours because they cannot recruit chefs and kitchen staff. Fruit growers watch crops spoil without enough seasonal workers. Hotels in regional Australia turn away customers because they cannot fully staff their businesses. (I am not forgetting the ever-increasing costs imposed by the current government and that is an issue!)

Then there is trade, Australia is a trading nation. Small manufacturers export specialised products. Tourism operators depend on overseas visitors. Farmers rely on international markets. Thousands of small businesses exist because Australia is connected to the global economy. Policies that encourage economic nationalism without recognising these realities risk shrinking the very markets on which many businesses depend.

Another concern is the distrust of experts by One Nation. Whether it is economists, scientists, universities or public servants - successful economies rely on institutions that provide evidence, advice and stability. Businesses make better decisions when governments listen to evidence rather than emotion (Albanese please take note). We know experts and Governments make mistakes but replacing evidence with extreme ideology never produces good economic policy.

Small business owners understand risk better than most Australians. Every day they make decisions based on facts, customer demand and cash flow - not slogans.

One Nation also presents itself as standing against “elites” even though it is supported by some very elite people indeed. Yet Australia’s real economic challenge is not a conspiracy, it is lifting productivity, improving skills, reducing unnecessary regulation, investing in infrastructure and helping businesses adopt new technology.

One of our economic strengths has been our ability to attract talented people from around the world, build strong institutions and create stable conditions for investment. Small business has flourished because governments of all persuasions have generally maintained those foundations.

If we genuinely want stronger small businesses, we should focus on practical reforms: simpler tax administration, better access to finance, improved vocational education, reliable digital infrastructure, sensible migration settings, affordable energy, less red tape, and policies that increase productivity rather than divide Australians.

Populist politics can win headlines. It is practical policy creates jobs.

As we progress we know the government currently has nothing but lip service for small business. One Nation would be worse, much worse. So most of the independent MPs and Senators are looking good – most are sensible, engaging, knowledgeable, willing to seek advice from experts and focused on reality not other nastier things.

We need sensible independents to get the government back on track – not extremes who will destroy the track altogether.