The Canberra Liberals have seized on the results of the latest quarterly Sensis Small Business Survey, claiming it is evidence the Barr Government is out of touch with small business.

The survey, which uses feedback from a sample of businesses to gauge industry sentiment, found small to medium businesses in the ACT remained the second most confident in the nation.

But the survey reported the sector's confidence in ACT government policies had dropped 17 points in the past three months - by far the steepest fall of any state or territory in that period. Almost half of the 80 businesses surveyed believed the government's policing "worked against them".

It marked an alarmingly shift from 12 months ago, when the businesses surveyed expressed positive views of the government's agenda.

The leading criticisms of the ACT government in the latest survey related to the number of fees and charges imposed on businesses, high taxation and a "perception of it being only concerned with big business".

The survey period coincided with an Assembly inquiry into commercial rates, which revealed widespread discontent with the Barr government's taxation reforms.

The inquiry heard numerous accounts of landowners and businesses being stung with shock rate increases, as the government moves to abolish stamp duty in favour of higher land-based taxes.

The committee overseeing the inquiry recommended the government consider offering compensation to some landowners, as well as restoring commercial rates to 2012 levels.

Opposition business and employment spokesman Andrew Wall said the survey's results were proof the government's policies were harming small and medium-sized businesses.

"The government should be delivering policies that relieve the pressures of excessive rates, taxes, fees and charges. They should be doing everything they can to make it easier for small businesses to grow and succeed," Mr Wall said.

"But after 18 years in government, Labor and the Greens have demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of what it's like for those who take the risk of translating a good idea into a small business."

Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr did not respond directly to the criticisms referenced in the survey, but noted the sample size was small and the results tended to fluctuate between quarters.

Mr Barr said the results in fact showed Canberra was a "great place to do business", as he defended his government's business policies.

The government has abolished stamp duty on commercial transactions below $1.5 million and lifted the payroll tax threshold as part of an overhaul of the system.

"The ACT government's tax reforms are creating a fairer and more equitable tax system in the territory," Mr Barr said.