Business groups to kickstart red tape round-up
- Queensland‘s Chambers of Commerce to contribute to Crisafulli Government’s small business red tape reduction focus.
- Removing unnecessary regulations for regional Queensland small and family businesses is a key priority.
- Queensland Small Business Commissioner has been refocused on red tape reduction and dispute resolution.
Hundreds of small and family businesses are being called upon to provide practical solutions to reduce red tape as part of the Crisafulli Government’s focus on removing unnecessary government regulations.
Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin will write to more than 120 Chambers of Commerce across Queensland asking for feedback to rip up the red tape that is strangling businesses.
As part of delivering a fresh start for Queensland, earlier this month the Crisafulli Government fulfilled a key commitment in its 100 Day Plan to refocus the Queensland Small Business Commissioner on red tape reduction and dispute resolution.
New figures show that there are now more than 495,000 Queensland small and family businesses who employ more than one million Queenslanders.
Under Labor’s red tape burden Queensland experienced the highest failure rate of businesses of anywhere in Australia, with more than 30% of new small businesses failing within the first five years.
According to Business Chamber Queensland the cost of regulation has doubled in two years to $50,000.
Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin met with Caloundra Chamber of Commerce at Caloundra-based OceanView Helicopters to listen to their feedback on removing government regulations suffocating businesses.
“We are getting on with the job of collecting red tape reduction examples starting with Chambers of Commerce,” Mr Minnikin said.
“Chambers of Commerce across Queensland understand the red tape challenges faced by many small and family businesses and I want their support in gathering examples.
“Some of the feedback includes language being too complicated, different information from different areas of government or duplication in auditing and monitoring requirements.
“Queensland has one of the highest rates of entry into small business. However small and family businesses are telling us that growing red tape and inefficient regulation is stifling their business growth and competitiveness.
“Unlike the former Labor Government, we want to see small businesses not only survive, but thrive.”
Member for Caloundra Kendall Morton was a business owner and understands the impact red tape can have on stifling innovation and creativity.
“As a business owner I would often experience the time-consuming process of dealing with all levels of government and the flow-on effect it had on staff, productivity and ultimately the consumer loses out,” Ms Morton said.
“I know from personal experience that red tape can cripple a business and take away from valuable time with customers.
“I welcome the Crisafulli Government‘s focus on red tape reduction and making it easier for small and family-owned businesses to get on with providing essential goods and services that enhance all Queensland communities.“
Caloundra Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Bolton also welcomed the focus on streamlining red tape faced by Queensland businesses.
“Small and family businesses like OceanView Helicopters are at the heart of our tourism communities, providing services, training and products and it is imperative we reduce the hurdles they face,” Ms Bolton said.
“We want to ensure people from all backgrounds, with all experiences, are well-supported to start and operate small and family businesses.”
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