Small business overlooked by govt: oppn

Small business has been overlooked by the federal government in its discussion with business leaders over the economic crisis, the opposition's treasury spokeswoman Julie Bishop says.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd met with business leaders on Friday to thrash out further ideas to protect the economy from the global financial crisis.

Some of Australia's biggest companies were present at the round table, but the federal government left out the small business sector in its discussions, Ms Bishop said on Sunday.

"The prime minister can take advice from whomever he chooses," she told the Ten Network.

"Obviously, I would have assumed that the prime minister's been getting advice from the big end of town throughout this year."

When the opposition was calling for the full effect of the interest rate cut to be passed on, they were thinking of small business, Ms Bishop said.

"Now, as I understand it, for many small businesses, they've not yet received an interest rate cut on small business loans, on their overdrafts, and that's where the focus must be."

Small businesses needed to be secure and stable to continue to employ people during the current economic times, she said.

"We've got to focus on job security, job stability."

Source: http://news.theage.com.au/national/small-business-overlooked-by-govt-oppn