Australian Business Owners Ignore Federal Government's CPRS

Australian business owners are ignoring the government’s Emissions Trading Scheme accusing it of not supplying them with sufficient explanation about its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

But business owners are concerned that CPRS will be expensive!

In a national survey released today almost 90 per cent (87.7%) of business owners said they had NOT introduced any changes in anticipation of CPRS.

Almost 94 percent also said they had not received sufficient information from the government about CPRS.

The survey of 5000 companies was sponsored by leading international accounting firm, MGI, which specialises in the family and privately owned business sector.

Today’s research results are part of the MGI Australian Family and Private Business Survey, which was undertaken by RMIT University. The researchers undertaking the current study are Professor Kosmas Smyrnios and Mr Lucio Dana. The full report will be available mid-year.

MGI Australasia CPRS Expert and MGI Adelaide Director, Des Caulfield said that it will be hard for the Government to sell the benefits of its proposed policy while SMEs do not have access to the information they need about CPRS.

Mr Caulfield continued more information would also help the more than half of Australian business owners who fear they will incur increased costs as part of the Federal government’s CPRS.

“They felt the price jumps will be in energy (80 per cent), transport (72 per cent) and raw materials (49 per cent)”, he said.

Business owner said their accountants (27 per cent) were most likely to assist them prepare for the introduction of CPRS. But nearly half (43.1 per cent) said they were not looking for outside help.

“Or more likely hadn’t even thought about it,” Mr. Caulfield said.

For further information including state and industry comparisons:

Christine Greiser
MGI Australasia
Level 10
600 St Kilda Road
Melbourne 3000
Tel: 03 9521 3000
Email: christine.greiser@mgimelb.com.au 

Professor Kosmas Smyrnios
School of Management
RMIT University
Building 108
Level 13
329 Bourke St
Melbourne 3000
Tel: 03 9925 1633
Email: kosmas.smyrnios@rmit.edu.au

www.mgiaust.com

2010-03-11