PMA organises protest petition

Peter Rose, PMA director of Australian Activities, has issued the following statement following the Federal Government's decision to retain the current GST-free threshold on imported goods:

"Our Government does not appear to understand the damage that is being done to small business in Australia through this ridiculous decision.

"Ask any retailer in our industry, what their major problem is, and we know they will say overseas imports via the internet.

"This problem is exactly the same in other industries where goods are easily imported (books, music, jewellery, sunglasses, OTC medication, toys, CE products, bicycle accessories, etc) .

"How can a retailer in Australia expect to compete with major organisations world wide (who undoubtedly buy with major quantity discounts) and then find imports get a 10% "free kick", from our government because they do not reside in Australia?. Where is the sense in that?

"Is there no interest in the local employment, local taxes, local rents, advertising, servicing,sales organisations that are being effected at an alarming rate?

"How many of our members have stopped selling hardware as it's too competitive? Most of our competing developed countries allow GST-free imports up to around $200.Australia allows up to $1000! 

"We have lost this battle but with your help the war will continue!

"We need you to sign the protest petition when you are in Melbourne for the PMA Digital Life Expo."