Palaszczuk Government opens Office of Small Business

Published Tuesday, 26 July, 2016 at 12:00 PM

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Queensland small businesses will be better supported to start, grow and employ with the opening of the Palaszczuk Government’s Office of Small Business today.

Minister for Small Business Leeanne Enoch said the new Office of Small Business was a key initiative of the Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy 2016-20, part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $405 million Advance Queensland agenda.

“Our new Office of Small Business will be instrumental to achieving the strategy’s aim to provide stronger advocacy, connect businesses to help them succeed and empower them to work smarter,” Ms Enoch said.

“The Office of Small Business will work proactively across government to achieve better coordination and connectivity, delivering improved outcomes for small business when interacting with the Queensland Government.

“A key focus of the Office of Small Business will be collaborating with stakeholders across the state to drive the implementation of the Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy.”

Minister Enoch said the Office of Small Business will help Queensland small businesses tap into funding programs to help them be part of the digital economy.

“We want to help Queensland small business embrace digital technologies and make the most of the many opportunities arising from digital disruption,” she said.

“It is vital that we put in place this support to make our small businesses competitive. The Palaszczuk Government is doing this through a new three-year $6 million Small Business Digital Grants program.”

A Small Business Champion is currently being recruited to ensure small businesses are represented and connected to the national agenda.

The Office of Small Business will deliver the government’s business services online through Business Queensland that hosts 1382 services – such as podcasts, e-learning tools and webinars – and is accessed by more than 4 million users.

Ms Enoch said the Office of Small Business will also deliver programs to drive business growth and employment and help new businesses start with a plan for success.

“We will assist businesses to grow and employ through the Accelerate Small Businessgrants program, by expanding the successful Mentoring for Growth program and providing support for new businesses through the Small Business Entrepreneurs Grant program,” she said. 

For more information visit www.dtesb.qld.gov.au/small-business

Media contact: Daniel Lato 0438 830 201