LIBERALS MUST NOT RUN AWAY FROM ANTI PHOENIX MEASURES

BRENDAN O'CONNOR MP.
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4 years ago
LIBERALS MUST NOT RUN AWAY FROM ANTI PHOENIX MEASURES
BRENDAN O'CONNOR MP
Labor calls on the Government to back Labor led legislation to crack down on dodgy phoenix activity, which has a major impact on small businesses.
 
The legislation would require all company directors to obtain a unique Director Identification Number (DIN), which is integral for small businesses, liquidators and enforcement agencies to access information on directors including accurate information about director histories.
 
It seems that having been dragged into taking some action, the Liberals are now crab walking away from leadership on this issue.
 
This is despite widespread support for the measure from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, the ACTU, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Master Builders Australia, to name a few.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell has also urged the government to act on the policy:
 
“Everyone supports the Director ID number, everyone supports the fact that it would dramatically address our capacity to reduce other inappropriate behaviour. We’ve got to make sure this doesn’t’ become a bit of a dog’s breakfast.”
KATE CARNELL, WEDNESDAY, 17 JULY 2019.
 
Small businesses creditors and tradies are worst hit by phoenixing and under this Government’s watch the economic cost of phoenix activity has doubled, to $6 billion a year. 
 
It’s time the Government focused on protecting the vast majority of scrupulous businesses from the harm caused by the crooked few, rather than avoiding any responsibility.
Small Business