The Liberals are the strongest supporters of small business.

We understand that overwhelmingly what small business wants is to be able to get on with running their business without the interference of government, at both state and federal level.

“I have enormous admiration for anyone who sets out to run a small business,” Premier Jeremy Rockliff said.

“Long hours, stress, paperwork, taxes, staff hassles, more paperwork, and local, state and federal government red tape.

“So today, I am pleased to announce a suite of measures to assist Tasmanian small business, including:

“First, we’re going to genuinely slash red tape and make it easier for small business to tender for government work with single form tendering for small business for all tenders up to $250,000.

“Putting in the many hours required for a government tender is bad enough, given that it’s completely unpaid - even if you are fortunate enough to win the tender. Having to wade through half a dozen forms or more to do it is even worse.

“So if re-elected, we’ll require that all tenders for small business valued up to $250,000 will require ONE FORM ONLY.

“Second, we’ll deliver a new $1 million grant program for small business, with grants of up to $10,000 for capital purchases, with small businesses being asked for a 30 per cent co-contribution.

“Third, we’re going to be delivering a new multicultural grant program, to help eligible multicultural small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 to get their businesses up and running.

“And fourth, recognising the importance of good small business advocacy, we’re going to be providing ongoing funding of $65,000 per year to the Tasmanian Small Business Council so they can keep on doing their good work.”

Minister for Small Business, Nick Duigan, said the Tasmanian Liberals will always make it easier for businesses to do business.

“We understand the blood, sweat and tears that Tasmanians put into run the estimated 41,300 small businesses currently operating in this State, and we will always back them,” Minister Duigan said.

The cost of the Liberal Small Business Plan is $3.46 million over four years.