Recently the Australian government announced that Small Business would move to Cabinet and now we have the appointment of our first federal Small Business Commissioner. Does anyone smell 2013 election fear.

These are significant and historical events and should bring small business concerns into consideration where government has traditionally ignored its importance to the economy. One might suspect that State governments being aware of the federal treatment of Small Business and have been busy introducing State Small Business Ministers may have also, in part, influenced these decisions.

Both the Labor and the Greens are suggesting this is an act of genius and generosity.

How foolish of me to think Gillard would appoint someone who had started or managed their own small business and can empathise with small business entrepreneurs.  Menzies House

The Commissioner may attract criticism as no one as yet has mentioned introducing stronger powers to reasonably deal with disputes, as is the case in every Austratian state except South Australia.

The small business commissioner will act as a one-stop shop, a place that small businesses can go when they need advice about the whole range of government programs, rather than having to puzzle their way through as to who to talk to.  Ms Gillard

Moving Small Business to Cabinet was actually an LNP policy commitment at the 2010 election while Labor and the Greens simply ignored the need.  Australians have generally been angered by the failures and back-flips by the government and early polling suggests the LNP will romp in at the next election.

It should be noted that the 2010 Australian federal election is regarded as the tightest battle in our history where Labor only took government by selling off the Senate to the Greens and buying two independents to win by one fragile seat.