SIX months is too long to wait for a federal election, with small businesses and farmers across the Southern Downs uncertain what the future holds, Bruce Scott says.

The Federal Member for Maranoa spoke to the Daily News as his Labor counterparts voted to keep prime minister Julia Gillard as their leader yesterday afternoon.

"September is too far away," Mr Scott said, challenging Ms Gillard to "get into the car and head straight to Government House" to call a general election.

"There's a lack of confidence across the length and breadth of Australia that needs to be fixed now," he said.

"The small business sector is the driver of our economy and farmers - who produce our food for our nation and continue to export 60% of our production - they want certainty about the direction our government is taking the country in and we're not seeing any of that.

"All we're seeing is members of the Labor Party more interested in their own jobs and not about jobs of millions of Australians that they're meant to be leading."

Mr Scott said he had spoken to many members of the general and business community across his electorate who are lacking confidence they'll be able to continue to make a living.

"I am confident they will resoundly reject this government (if a federal election is called now) because they want a government they can trust to deliver good economic management, keep the cost of living down and make sure that we can grow the economy," he said.

"There's so many people struggling with the cost of living on a day-to-day basis, we've had natural disasters and farmers throwing their hands up in the air wanting to walk away and small businesses struggling to keep their doors open due to a lack of business confidence.

"If they have no confidence in the government they stop spending because they're uncertain about the future and that is why the prime minister should go out to Government House and ask the Governor-General for a general election for the lower house and ask the people what they think."

Warwick ALP branch president John Price disagreed with Mr Scott and said calling a federal election now would be unwise.

"No way. There are far too many issues yet to be settled with the disability scheme and all the rest," he said.

"We don't need an election yet - it's far too early."

Mr Price said he was not concerned with the rivalry within the Labor party.

"I think we might end up with a hung parliament and I believe that's sometimes a good thing," he said.

"It means we've got lots of different views coming in, and that's what good democracy is supposed to be about."

What do you think? Should a federal election be called now instead of September? Email edit@warwickdailynews.com.au, comment below or like us on Facebook to have your say.