❓ Hon. Batong Pham questions the Minister for Commerce's decision to defund the Belmont Small Business Centre, highlighting potential impacts on federal funding, job losses, and services. The Minister, Hon. Barry House, refutes the claims, stating federal funding isn't solely contingent on state funding and services will be maintained.
AnsweredQoN 436Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BELMONT SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE
I refer to minister’s decision to defund Belmont Business Enterprise Centre. (1) Given that this centre currently receives $1 million over four years in federal funding and that the federal funding is contingent on state funding, what is the economic logic of the minister withdrawing the state’s component of $93 000 a year? (2) Is the minister also aware that the $93 000 cut will result in job losses and the cutting of services to small business operators at a time of greatest need? (3) Will the minister now be targeting other business enterprise centres in Labor electorates for funding cuts? Hon BARRY HOUSE
I refer to minister’s decision to defund Belmont Business Enterprise Centre. (1) Given that this centre currently receives $1 million over four years in federal funding and that the federal funding is contingent on state funding, what is the economic logic of the minister withdrawing the state’s component of $93 000 a year? (2) Is the minister also aware that the $93 000 cut will result in job losses and the cutting of services to small business operators at a time of greatest need? (3) Will the minister now be targeting other business enterprise centres in Labor electorates for funding cuts? Hon BARRY HOUSE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(1) Given that this centre currently receives $1 million over four years in federal funding and that the federal funding is contingent on state funding, what is the economic logic of the minister withdrawing the state’s component of $93 000 a year? (2) Is the minister also aware that the $93 000 cut will result in job losses and the cutting of services to small business operators at a time of greatest need? (3) Will the minister now be targeting other business enterprise centres in Labor electorates for funding cuts? Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(2) Is the minister also aware that the $93 000 cut will result in job losses and the cutting of services to small business operators at a time of greatest need? (3) Will the minister now be targeting other business enterprise centres in Labor electorates for funding cuts? Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(3) Will the minister now be targeting other business enterprise centres in Labor electorates for funding cuts? Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(3) No.
(1) Given that this centre currently receives $1 million over four years in federal funding and that the federal funding is contingent on state funding, what is the economic logic of the minister withdrawing the state’s component of $93 000 a year? (2) Is the minister also aware that the $93 000 cut will result in job losses and the cutting of services to small business operators at a time of greatest need? (3) Will the minister now be targeting other business enterprise centres in Labor electorates for funding cuts? Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(2) Is the minister also aware that the $93 000 cut will result in job losses and the cutting of services to small business operators at a time of greatest need? (3) Will the minister now be targeting other business enterprise centres in Labor electorates for funding cuts? Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(3) Will the minister now be targeting other business enterprise centres in Labor electorates for funding cuts? Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(1) The federal funding to the Small Business Centre, Belmont is not solely contingent on state funding. (2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(2) There are no indications that this decision will lead to job cuts. Currently, 80 per cent of the centre’s activities are directed to the statewide textile, clothing and footwear industry, which means that at best only 20 per cent of small business in the Belmont region can access this service under the current arrangements. The Small Business Development Corporation in conjunction with the City of Belmont and the other six metropolitan small business centres are working to ensure that services provided to the small business sector in Belmont are not only maintained, but improved. (3) No.
(3) No.
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