News
28 January, 2025
Boosting business
With cost-of-living pressures continuing to weigh on small businesses, the State Government has embarked on a new campaign to understand and reduce red tape that is “strangling” businesses, with Caboolture serving as a launching point.
Small and Family Business Minister, Steve Minnikin, last week met with Greater Caboolture Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) president, Carla Melbourne, and Member for Pumicestone, Ariana Doolan, on January 22 to kickstart a new campaign that will see chambers statewide give their feedback on the greatest bureaucratic hindrances to business growth.
Mr Minnikin told The Sentinel he would be writing to and personally delivering letters to more than 120 chambers, saying he wanted to find practical solutions to help businesses “thrive, not just survive.”
“Small business really is the powerhouse,” he said.
“It’s the engine room of the overall economy.
“Sadly, no matter what government does, sometimes businesses just won’t make it, but what’s unfair is when they’re drowning in paperwork and just can’t get enough time to seal and drive profit.”
The businesses in our area are still doing it really tough since COVID,” Ms Melbourne said.
New figures showed that there are now more than 495,000 Queensland small and family businesses who employ more than one million Queenslanders.
According to Business Chamber Queensland, the cost of regulation has doubled in two years to $50,000, with new data revealing Queensland experienced the highest failure rate of businesses anywhere in Australia, with more than 30 per cent of new small businesses failing within the first five years.
“Businesses are being hit from all angles: costs of paying staff, costs of renting, handling freight costs, increased red tape and finding enough staff. They’re just being battled from all ends.”
Ms Melbourne noted they are also seeing more micro businesses, with just one or two employees and not looking to hire more, which is affecting employment figures, especially among younger people looking to enter the workforce.
Ms Doolan added that she continued to see small business in Pumicestone struggling, while not as bad as during COVID, and hoped this new initiative will ultimately relieve some of the regulatory burden.
“When I was out knocking on small business doors, the biggest concern for them was the red tape and regulation, as it was just too hard to do what they do,” she said.
“I’m glad we’ve got Steve Minnikin as our small business Minister to work with our Chambers of Commerce to do something about it.”
Ms Doolan said she would be working with local chambers and business groups to ensure people from all backgrounds and with all experiences, were “well-supported to start and operate small and family businesses.”
Mr Minnikin added state support was only one piece of the puzzle and that he and Ms Doolan would continue to work with councils and federal members to support the economy and small businesses.
“I don’t think small business people really care who in government they’re dealing with, they just want to be able to do things fast so they can get on the front foot and do what they do best,” he said.
Ms Melbourne added that it is crucial for business owners to engage in events and support services including joining their local chamber.
“If you’re not a member of a chamber of commerce, reach out, come to events and pass on your feedback because we can put that forward to all levels of government,” she said.
Feedback already received included complicated language, different information from different areas of government or duplication in auditing.
