Opposition underlines SME issues with new shadow ministry roles for former business owner Luke Howarth

The federal opposition has a new-look shadow ministry and an updated focus on small business issues, through the introduction of former family business operator and Liberal Party MP Luke Howarth to shadow treasury and finance roles.

Howarth, the Federal Member for Petrie, will now serve as Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services in a shake-up announced by Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

He will move from the position of shadow minister for defence industry and defence personnel, and previously served as Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services in the former Morrison government.

Revealing the changes to his shadow ministry on Tuesday, Dutton underscored Howarth’s experience in the small business sector.

“Luke understands that small business is the backbone of the Australian economy,” Dutton said, adding that Howarth will “bring his strong command of retail economics to this important role”.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will retain her role as Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business.

Yet the elevation of Howarth is telling, as the Opposition frames the soaring cost of living, and the cost of doing business, as a cornerstone policy issue.

Prior to his political career, Howarth served as managing director of Sandgate Pest Control, a business that was under family control for more than 30 years.

In his maiden speech to the House of Representatives in December 2013, Howarth called it a formative experience.

“Running a small family business with a team of people really does give you a good understanding of the challenges SMEs deal with on a daily basis,” he said.

With the unemployment rate hovering around 5.8% at the time, Howarth said focusing on SME issues was essential.

“In order to create more jobs we need to reduce red tape, reduce taxes and provide support to small- and medium-sized businesses,” he said.

Howarth entered a career in politics after becoming frustrated by union involvement in the SME sector, his official website states.

Even before Howarth’s appointment to the new shadow ministry roles, the federal opposition has been leaning on small business issues: Ley has attended a series of small business drop-ins over the last month, speaking with operators about the “stresses and strains they are facing under this cost of living crisis”.

In government, Small Business Minister Julie Collins and Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh have recently unveiled a suite of policies and plans aimed at small businesses, from free AI-training tools to a fast-tracked complaint system with the ACCC.