B-001: Taxation Free Small Business Act 1684

[Alfonso Velez]

Madam Speaker,

While the L&D party will support this bill, I'm disappointed that the Government only incorporated some of our suggestions in the final draft of the bill. While we're delighted that the Prime Minister has resisted the extreme wing of his party that sees businesses as the enemy--this bill can and should go further. Therefore, the L&D party moves the following amendments:

Velez I:

Amend Article 1 to read:

Article 2.Definition of a small business.
-Under this act, a Small Business is defined as "small businesses are privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships that have 75100 employees or less."
-The figure for number of employees can be adjusted by the local government from between 50 to 10075 to 125.
-These small businesses will not be forced into paying Corporation Tax. 

Velez II:

Amend Article 3 to read:

Article 3.Eligibility.
-All small business aside from business in healthcare (unless they provide free service), electricity companies, and gas companies;
-Any business that attempts to exploit loopholes or fire employees on purpose to achieve the tax free figure of employees will not be eligible to become taxation free.
-Any business with a poor workers rights record can be rejected by local government after investigation.
-During investigation taxation on said business taxation levels will stay normal. 

Madam Speaker, these two amendments will ensure that small businesses at every level of the community enjoy these protections. The second amendment also ensures that healthcare practitioners with under 100 employees will qualify under this act. We must remember that many healthcare companies are, in fact, small businesses that employ a core staff of doctors, nurses, hygienists, receptionists, etc. I can see no logical reason to exclude this vital lifeline to the health and wellbeing of our local communities from this bill and I hope Parliament will support my amendments.