Regulation the focus for small firms
CAIRNS business operators have made the most of a rare chance to rub shoulders with some of the most powerful voices in the state’s small business sector.
Queensland’s Small Business champion Maree Adshead yesterday headed up a roundtable meeting in Cairns, which brought together local, state and national business representatives.
The event, held at ShangriLa Hotel, was aimed at pinpointing new ways of improving the state’s “business regulatory environment”.
Participants included Cairns Chamber of Commerce chief executive Deb Hancock, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell and every member of Queensland’s Better Regulation Taskforce.
Mrs Adshead said part of her role was to provide “candid and fearless advice” to Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch.
“Regulators have just got to be more flexible, enable more practical thinking and be more responsive,” she said.
“The business environment is changing so rapidly, we’ve got distraction coming from all over the place – look at the Airbnb business model verses that of the traditional motel. Think of all the regulatory constraints, permits and costs that a motel might have to maintain – the same doesn’t apply to Airbnb.
“Any opportunity to simplify how businesses can get on and do what they do is welcome.
“If there is a simplification in terms of understanding pay rates, trading hours and those sorts of things – then that’s always welcomed by the small businesses I talk to.”
Mrs Adshead said she had gauged good levels of optimism from within the Far North’s small business sector.
Ms Hancock said strong collaboration between the business industry and government was the “only way to move forward”.
“What we have seen is a great demonstration of how different levels of government and businesses can work together to make change,” she said.
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