Retail billionaire and founder of furniture and bedding store Harvey Norman, Gerry Harvey, has called on the new Abbott government to quickly eliminate the ‘‘100-foot-high’’ tower of red tape constricting business growth in Australia as consumers still refuse to open their wallets at his shops.

The executive chairman of Harvey Norman also said he was at a loss to explain why higher consumer confidence in the wake of the federal election had not translated into improving sales, while he called on an end to the ‘'nanny state'’ and for a return to old fashioned values of people taking responsibility for their actions.

Believer in people power ... Gerry Harvey.

‘‘People have to look after themselves,’’ Mr Harvey said. ‘‘When I grew up there was a self-care thing, you had to learn by your mistakes you didn’t have everyone around the place looking after me and changing my nappy every time I peed myself, so you have to look after yourself, take responsibility for your actions and things like that.’’

Mr Harvey remained cynical that the new federal government would actually remove enough red tape to make a difference, despite the Coalition's promises and best intentions.