Family and private business has historically been the backbone of the economy in Australia and yet they sit back in silence and allow Government to pay lip service to the real issues for private companies.

Over the last six months I have written to and tried to make appointments to meet with Small Business Ministers in Federal and State Government and also with opposition counerparts. Not a single response from any one.

Yet previous Federal Small Business Ministers Ian Mcfarlane and Fran Bailey both took time out to meet me and listen to my concerns re private business issues. If the only message they hear is from public servants or industry associations, they are not hearing the real side of what happens in business life.

My concerns are not related to my own issues but for families in business all over. If all you do is send an email or write a letter then you have made a positive step in broadening the understanding of the decision makers who live in isolation from the real world.