The Queensland Small Business Commissioner has committed to reducing red tape for small and family businesses as part of the state government’s key 100 Day Plan.
As part of this commitment, the Commissioner is set to consult and collect feedback from small and family businesses to identify practical solutions to remove red tape, alongside dispute resolutions.
Small and family businesses employ more than one million Queenslanders and are one of the largest employers in the state. However, it has also experienced the highest failure rate of businesses of anywhere in the nation, with more than 30 per cent of new small businesses failing within the first five years.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli stated that red tape had been weighing down businesses, especially SMEs, across Queensland for far too long.
“These are the first steps to unleashing the true potential of small and family businesses here in Queensland,” Crisafulli said. “We will do all we can to ensure they can get on with running their businesses without bureaucratic red tape.”
He added, “With the refocusing of the Small Business Commissioner, we can ensure these small businesses spend more time ensuring their customers are serviced rather than servicing Government.”
Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin said that the refocus would enhance the operating environment for small and family-owned businesses to allow them to create jobs, drive innovation and provide essential goods and services that enhance all Queensland communities.
“There are almost 500,000 small and family businesses employing more than one million Queenslanders and it’s time to start reducing unnecessary barriers to allow them to succeed,” Minnikin said. “We want them to get on and operate in a business-friendly environment that fosters innovation and growth. We are living through challenging economic times, and we want to make sure that businesses are given the opportunity to thrive.”
Queensland Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb stated that red tape reduction was the key to unlocking the growth of many of Queensland’s SMEs and reducing their stress levels.
“Small businesses are the heart of our local communities, and because of this, it is imperative that we tackle the challenges that they face,” Lamb said. “I want to make sure small businesses across all of Queensland have access to information, guidance and assistance that makes their lives easier so that they can continue to contribute to our state’s economic future.”
“I’ve committed to gathering insights into the small-business experience when attempting to comply with regulation in Queensland and ensuring that those experiences are shared directly with the Minister and the relevant government agencies. By working in collaboration, I am confident that we can deliver meaningful support and create great outcomes for our small business community,” she added.
