Queensland Small Business Industry Roundtable

NATIONAL QUEENSLAND

On 7 April 2022, Maree Adshead, Queensland Small Business Commissioner and Di Farmer, Minister for Small Business, held a Small Business Industry Roundtable meeting that MGA attended.

Several matters of importance to members were raised and discussed including the drastic shortage of labour and workers.

COVID-19 testing, isolation, and close contact rules have meant workers are very difficult to secure. Some members are opening their stores later, closing earlier and closing departments down such as delicatessens, bakery, and meat. Minister Farmer and Commissioner Adshead were aware of the challenges members are facing and have offered to find solutions to support all small business industry sectors.

Small Business Commissioner Maree Adshead was pleased to confirm that the services the Small Business Commissioner and her team provide have been expanded and made permanently available to small businesses, with the passing of the Small Business Commissioner Bill 2021 through Parliament in March 2022. Following Royal Assent, the new legislation will take effect on 3 May 2022.

Small Business Commissioner, Maree Adshead, reported since starting nearly two years ago, her office has:

• received roughly 7,500 direct contacts and enquiries from small business

• case managed nearly 1,000 business tenancy disputes and delivered almost 600 free mediations

• welcomed 30 Queensland councils into our Small Business Friendly program which is helping to boost awareness of small business needs, increase support, and reduce administrative and regulatory red tape burdens.

• For businesses impacted by the recent flood events in the SouthEast, Maree’s team has secured support for flood affected small businesses, including grants, loans and other many helpful pieces of advice made available on the SBC’s website.

Small Business Commissioner Adshead and Minister Farmer have been and continue to, advocate on COVID-19 related issues affecting small business. They are aware of a range of concerns regarding the isolation rules for close contacts, mandatory vaccination requirements for workers in healthcare settings, and vaccination requirements for customers of hospitality and other venues.

They have been regularly raising these concerns and other issues with both the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Queensland Health to ensure members are heard.