Ljiljanna Ravlich asks about the potential privatisation of the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) following a Chamber of Commerce and Industry submission. Barry House responds that there are no current plans for privatisation, pending review by the economic audit committee.

AnsweredQoN 179Legislative Council
Asked
10 March 2009
Portfolio
Commerce

QuestionView source ↗

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION — PRIVATISATION
I refer to the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2009-10 pre-budget submission to the Western Australian government, which calls for the privatisation of many of the functions of the Small Business Development Corporation and absorption of other functions into other agencies. (1) Does the minister support the dismantling of the Small Business Development Corporation and the many regional small business centres this action would entail? (2) If no to (1) — (a) will the minister commit to opposing any move by his government to privatise or dismantle the Small Business Development Corporation, and, if not, why not; and (b) will the minister communicate this lack of support to the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a clear unequivocal manner, and, if not, why not? (3) If yes to (1), can the minister explain this support and explain to regional small businesses why he intends to abandon them in this way? Hon BARRY HOUSE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) There are currently no plans to dismantle or privatise the Small Business Development Corporation. The corporation, like all Western Australian state and public sector agencies, is subject to review by the economic audit committee and as such the government will not make a decision about the future shape of any agency until that process has been completed. (2)-(3) Not applicable.
(1) Does the minister support the dismantling of the Small Business Development Corporation and the many regional small business centres this action would entail? (2) If no to (1) — (a) will the minister commit to opposing any move by his government to privatise or dismantle the Small Business Development Corporation, and, if not, why not; and (b) will the minister communicate this lack of support to the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a clear unequivocal manner, and, if not, why not? (3) If yes to (1), can the minister explain this support and explain to regional small businesses why he intends to abandon them in this way? Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) There are currently no plans to dismantle or privatise the Small Business Development Corporation. The corporation, like all Western Australian state and public sector agencies, is subject to review by the economic audit committee and as such the government will not make a decision about the future shape of any agency until that process has been completed. (2)-(3) Not applicable.
(2) If no to (1) — (a) will the minister commit to opposing any move by his government to privatise or dismantle the Small Business Development Corporation, and, if not, why not; and (b) will the minister communicate this lack of support to the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a clear unequivocal manner, and, if not, why not? (3) If yes to (1), can the minister explain this support and explain to regional small businesses why he intends to abandon them in this way? Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) There are currently no plans to dismantle or privatise the Small Business Development Corporation. The corporation, like all Western Australian state and public sector agencies, is subject to review by the economic audit committee and as such the government will not make a decision about the future shape of any agency until that process has been completed. (2)-(3) Not applicable.
(b) will the minister communicate this lack of support to the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a clear unequivocal manner, and, if not, why not?
Hon BARRY HOUSE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) There are currently no plans to dismantle or privatise the Small Business Development Corporation. The corporation, like all Western Australian state and public sector agencies, is subject to review by the economic audit committee and as such the government will not make a decision about the future shape of any agency until that process has been completed. (2)-(3) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) There are currently no plans to dismantle or privatise the Small Business Development Corporation. The corporation, like all Western Australian state and public sector agencies, is subject to review by the economic audit committee and as such the government will not make a decision about the future shape of any agency until that process has been completed. (2)-(3) Not applicable.
(1) There are currently no plans to dismantle or privatise the Small Business Development Corporation. The corporation, like all Western Australian state and public sector agencies, is subject to review by the economic audit committee and as such the government will not make a decision about the future shape of any agency until that process has been completed. (2)-(3) Not applicable.
(2)-(3) Not applicable.

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