Better small business regulation remains key focus for Palaszczuk Government

A new survey released today (Monday) shows the Palaszczuk Government’s focus on reducing the regulatory burden for Queensland small businesses is having a positive impact - but there is still work to be done.

Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch said the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland's (CCIQ) Red Tape Survey found overall improvements in the major and moderate impact categories.

"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to making Queensland the place for small businesses to start, grow and employ, and the survey shows our support for the sector is beginning to take effect," Ms Enoch said.

“We know from CCIQ’s 2015 survey that small businesses felt let down by the former LNP Government and that the burden of red tape increased under their watch.

“While we have started the important job of repairing the damage caused by the Newman/Nicholls Government, there is much more to be done."

Ms Enoch said the CCIQ survey noted all three tiers of government realise that reducing red tape is essential to the growth of businesses, no matter what size.

“As promised at the last election, the Palaszczuk Government established the Red Tape Reduction Advisory Council to help identify regulatory pressure-points for the state’s 414,000 small businesses," she said.

“The Better Regulation Taskforce’s (formerly the Red Tape Reduction Advisory Council) first six-monthly progress report highlighted work was on track to implement all 14 of the previous recommendations made to reduce the regulatory burden and costs to small business operators.

“The LNP is risking up to 1000 jobs and holding back our efforts to cut red tape for business by opposing our proposed reforms to trading hours, which have widespread stakeholder support."

Ms Enoch announced last month the Palaszczuk Government will work with the small business sector to develop a Business Impact Statement process to capture the impacts of government decisions and legislation on the sector.

“And we are working with the Federal Government and local governments to find ways to streamline and improve regulatory compliance through initiatives like the National Business Simplification Initiative," she said.

“These are just some of the ways the Palaszczuk Government is addressing the burden of regulatory compliance for Queensland small businesses.”

Ms Enoch said the report highlighted that complying with Federal departments provided significant hurdles for small businesses in Queensland.

“The Prime Minister banished the small business portfolio to the outer ministry, meaning key decisions are being made at the Cabinet table without the voice of small businesses being heard,” she said.

“I wrote to Malcolm Turnbull to express my concerns over this move and I again call on him to restore small business to his Cabinet.

“Further, I call on the Prime Minister and the Federal Small Business Minister to work with our government and Queensland’s local government in a collaborative way to help deliver an improved regulatory environment for small business.”

ENDS

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