Chief entrepreneur says data is the way to go
THE best thing the State Government can do to help small to medium-sized businesses in regional Queensland is to make available fibre optic capacity on networks used by state-owned corporations like Energy Queensland, according to the state’s chief entrepreneur, Steve Baxter.
Mr Baxter described the project, which was announced during the State Government’s election campaign and would drastically increase internet speeds, as “the simplest project ever”, and “the most important project since we paved the roads”, but said bureaucrats were getting in the way.
“It’s the simplest project ever and it’s that simple it breaks (bureaucrats) heads. Honestly they’re hopeless, they should get out of the way.”
Mr Baxter said the project could turn Queensland into a global-leading state.
Mr Baxter’s comments come off the back of a successful Q&A panel held at Canvas Coworking yesterday morning.
The panel was part of a two-day, 1400km regional tour organised by Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise and Food Leaders Australia, secured as part of the Advance Queensland Regional Innovation Program.
After flying into Toowoomba, Mr Baxter and his cohort headed to Dalby and St George, and will visit Roma today.
Reflecting on Toowoomba’s entrepreneurial spirit, he said he couldn’t help but admire what the Wagner family had done at Wellcamp airport.
“If you want no better statement of entrepreneurial risk taking, it’s that place. I’m a huge fan of the doing, and if anyone demonstrates doing, it’s the Wagner family,” he said.
He said his biggest tip for young entrepreneurs and business owners was to “keep doing it”.
“Toowoomba’s winning. I mean, forget about infrastructure jobs. They’ll come and go and we’ll be more efficient for it afterwards, but you’ve got to encourage the risk, encourage people to get out there,” he added. “The hardest thing about business is starting.”