Edgar Adams' Editorial

If you are looking for the ultimate act of hypocrisy it has to be Wyong and Gosford Councils’ getting behind a ‘Buy Local’ campaign.

Both Mayors are exhorting businesses to ‘buy local’ but if you approach them about a business that lost a tender to a city supplier when the pricing was comparable, this pair jump up and down and quote ICAC guidelines to get out of bother. CCBR knows of several local companies that are competitively supplying councils in other parts of NSW but can’t break in on the Coast.

NBN Television is pushing the ‘Buy Local’ issue and good on them. While there are times when you can buy better elsewhere, it can often be a false economy. Sydney suppliers will cut the guts out of their prices but try getting them to service the product after that.

Well, a little push and shove has achieved what seemed to be the impossible. Our June issue on the HMAS Adelaide has apparently met with some success, although I do think that our pollies have been working behind the scenes on our case. I believe there was a disconnect between Macquarie Street and Canberra, and Canberra had certainly lost interest.

The Federal Member for Robertson was upset with our article and demanded an apology. We will provide that apology – when we see that ship off Terrigal. Meanwhile, the Member for Dobell should get some kudos for his efforts so far.

This month we report on the demise of Business Central Coast (formerly Central Coast Regional Development Corporation). For the past twelve months the organisation has been funded by the State government as both Gosford and Wyong Councils withdrew their funding a year ago. So what? You might say.

Well the point is that we need to be asking Gosford Council what they are doing with the Business Development and Tourism Levy that every business ratepayer in the Gosford LGA in paying. We know that half goes to Central Coast Tourism but we need to know how the other half is spent and whether that expenditure is in conformity with the terms of the approval of the Minister for Local Government set down fifteen years or so ago.

Well the Feds have passed the much expected Fair Work Act and killed the Howard Government’s Work Choices legislation.Until the last week of June the Government had small businesses believing that their new legislation would not be too detrimental to their future. But right at the last minute the legislation was changed, roping in small business on a whole raft of issues.

Now we find that this Government is paying back the unions for them financing the last election and small business will pay in spades. See our article - ‘Red flag raised for small businesses’. It is a media release from COSBOA who have been supporting the Government with the “Fair Work” Act and now find they have been dudded. From July 1, hiring, firing, and changing pay rates and hours has just become a minefield for small business.

The unions will have you believe that all employers are evil and employees are perfect. Of course there are bad employers – just like there are bad parents but the majority understand that their employees are the most important resource they have and treat them accordingly.

Anyway, this legislation has taken us back thirty years and the unions are loving it. Already they are walking into larger businesses and demanding 6% pay increases.

Edgar Adams
Editor

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