❓ Mr. Norberger asks about the Small Business-Friendly Local Governments Initiative. The Minister responds, highlighting its aims to reduce red tape and improve local government support for small businesses, noting early adoption by Joondalup and Victoria Park.
AnsweredQoN 595Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SMALL BUSINESS–FRIENDLY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
INITIATIVE
595. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for
Small Business:
Before I ask my question, I quickly
acknowledge Mr Rosco McGlashan, OAM, and his wonderful wife, Cheryl, who are in
the Speaker's gallery today. Members may know that Rosco is the fastest
Australian in Australia, naturally, having set the land speed record. I welcome
Rosco and his wife, Cheryl, to the chamber.
[Applause.]
Mr
J. NORBERGER : Can the minister please update the house on the small
business–friendly local governments initiative?
INITIATIVE
595. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for
Small Business:
Before I ask my question, I quickly
acknowledge Mr Rosco McGlashan, OAM, and his wonderful wife, Cheryl, who are in
the Speaker's gallery today. Members may know that Rosco is the fastest
Australian in Australia, naturally, having set the land speed record. I welcome
Rosco and his wife, Cheryl, to the chamber.
[Applause.]
Mr
J. NORBERGER : Can the minister please update the house on the small
business–friendly local governments initiative?
AnswerView source ↗
That is a fantastic question from
the member for Joondalup, who is a strong supporter of small business in his
local area. The small business–friendly local governments initiative
was recently announced by the Minister for Local Government and me in the
member for Victoria Park's electorate. It is great that a Liberal–National
government policy is being embraced by the people of Victoria Park as well as
the people of Joondalup, because they understand that this government is a supporter
of small business. This initiative will help at the start-up stage of small
businesses in their dealings with local governments, because local governments
have a lot of rules and regulations, members. Sometimes those rules and
regulations, such as licensing and permit red tape, can get in the way of
progress. When small businesses want to extend or build a new premise, they
often have to seek planning approvals to do so. For business growth in the
local areas, they need help with parking, signage and traffic management. Local
governments have a huge role to play in supporting small businesses. This small
business–friendly local governments initiative is about getting local
governments to sign up to a charter with the Small Business Commissioner on how
they will better support small businesses in their local area. It is
interesting that we have 214 000, or thereabouts, small businesses in Western Australia,
yet we have the highest number of local government laws; something like 4 643
laws have to be dealt with in local government areas. This Liberal–National
government wanted to create an initiative through the Small Business
Commissioner, and get local governments to sign up to this charter that will
focus them on enhancing customer service. It is about reducing the burden of
red tape around laws and regulations, making it easier for businesses to do
business, and about making sure local governments make payments to small businesses
on time. That will also help small businesses. There will also be planning to
manage any disputes. This is about changing the culture of how local
governments interact with small business so that they are supportive of small
business, not just there imposing regulations and red tape on small business. I
am really pleased, as I said before, that the member for Joondalup's
local government, the City of Joondalup, signed up straightaway; the Town of
Victoria Park has done the same.
Twelve more local governments have
demonstrated an interest in this, many of which are probably in Labor seats.
Those people understand that the Liberal–National government is a supporter
of the small business sector and it recognises the important role local
governments play in supporting small business. That is why this is a fantastic
initiative.
the member for Joondalup, who is a strong supporter of small business in his
local area. The small business–friendly local governments initiative
was recently announced by the Minister for Local Government and me in the
member for Victoria Park's electorate. It is great that a Liberal–National
government policy is being embraced by the people of Victoria Park as well as
the people of Joondalup, because they understand that this government is a supporter
of small business. This initiative will help at the start-up stage of small
businesses in their dealings with local governments, because local governments
have a lot of rules and regulations, members. Sometimes those rules and
regulations, such as licensing and permit red tape, can get in the way of
progress. When small businesses want to extend or build a new premise, they
often have to seek planning approvals to do so. For business growth in the
local areas, they need help with parking, signage and traffic management. Local
governments have a huge role to play in supporting small businesses. This small
business–friendly local governments initiative is about getting local
governments to sign up to a charter with the Small Business Commissioner on how
they will better support small businesses in their local area. It is
interesting that we have 214 000, or thereabouts, small businesses in Western Australia,
yet we have the highest number of local government laws; something like 4 643
laws have to be dealt with in local government areas. This Liberal–National
government wanted to create an initiative through the Small Business
Commissioner, and get local governments to sign up to this charter that will
focus them on enhancing customer service. It is about reducing the burden of
red tape around laws and regulations, making it easier for businesses to do
business, and about making sure local governments make payments to small businesses
on time. That will also help small businesses. There will also be planning to
manage any disputes. This is about changing the culture of how local
governments interact with small business so that they are supportive of small
business, not just there imposing regulations and red tape on small business. I
am really pleased, as I said before, that the member for Joondalup's
local government, the City of Joondalup, signed up straightaway; the Town of
Victoria Park has done the same.
Twelve more local governments have
demonstrated an interest in this, many of which are probably in Labor seats.
Those people understand that the Liberal–National government is a supporter
of the small business sector and it recognises the important role local
governments play in supporting small business. That is why this is a fantastic
initiative.
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