When the 2026-27 NSW Budget was handed down last week, many small business owners in Chatswood were hoping for some real relief. On the surface, there wasn't much there for them.
It's a tough environment out there. Inflation has been squeezing margins for two years running, and household spending has stayed soft as families watch every dollar. For the cafes, retailers, and local services that make up our high street, that means higher costs on one side and more cautious customers on the other, a hard place for any small business to be.
Given those pressures, this was a moment for the Budget to ease the load. Instead, there's no movement on payroll tax relief, and no new grants or advisory support of the kind operators have been calling out for. With the state forecasting further deficits, there's an understandable case for caution, but caution shouldn't come at the cost of the support many small businesses are genuinely relying on right now.
Chatswood's local businesses are the backbone of this community, and they're navigating a genuinely difficult economic climate. They deserve a budget that meets them where they are.
I know this Budget will leave some local operators feeling like their concerns weren't front of mind. I'll keep raising these issues in Parliament on your behalf. Please contact my office on
[email protected] and let me know how I can assist you and your business.
Tim James MP
Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Work Health and Safety and Building
Shadow Minister for Local Government
Shadow Minister for Veterans
Member for Willoughby