Small business sees another minister go Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan denies the government has lost its policy focus during Labor's leadership turmoil of the past few days, but small business is concerned about losing another minister. Chris Bowen, a supporter of former Labor leader Kevin Rudd, resigned as small business minister on Friday, after Prime Minister Julia Gillard was unopposed at Thursday's aborted leadership spill. Mr Rudd did not challenge, despite much speculation that he would. Opposition small business spokesman Bruce Billson said small business deserved better than a revolving door of ministers coming and going. Mr Bowen was the fifth small business minister in 15 months. "Small business needs a stable and reliable ally in government, but they haven't got anything like that under Labor," Mr Billson said in a statement on Friday. Mr Billson, who has held the portfolio in opposition since December 2009, said despite employing almost half the private sector workforce, Australia's small businesses were an after-thought by Labor. "This revolving door of small business ministers under Labor adds insult to the economic injury," he said. Retailers said this has to stop if any meaningful reform for business was to achieved. Ms Gillard has yet to announce a reshuffle of her front bench after the resignation of Mr Bowen, other ministers and whips. Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said the departure of successive ministers went hand in hand with a lapse in productivity and the government's ability to address small business' needs through an economic reform agenda. "The importance of a stable small business portfolio cannot be underestimated, given there's almost no Australian who doesn't go about their day without relying on at least one small business," Mr Zimmerman said in a statement. He said retailers were struggling with business costs, as well as weak consumer sentiment resulting from political instability. Mr Swan, who was unopposed as deputy prime minister in the spill - despite Labor stalwart Simon Crean having offered himself for the position - said all ministers had been getting stuck into the government's policy agenda. "Yesterday was important, because it has resolved this matter once and for all, and what Labor members have to do is to engage in the battle of ideas and the contest with (Opposition Leader) Tony Abbott as we go through to the election which will be on September 14," he told ABC radio. Business Council of Australia president Tony Shepherd said it was important that the government get on with governing. Recent weeks have also brought unexpected leadership changes in the governments of Victoria and the Northern Territory. "The terrible thing about this is that business confidence in Australia is low, and this will certainly detract from business confidence," Mr Shepherd told Sky News on Friday. We are becoming the coup capital of the world at the moment.