❓ Mr. Norberger asks about government support for small businesses through the SBDC. The Minister details SBDC services, client statistics, and dispute resolution outcomes, highlighting positive client feedback and ongoing government commitment.
AnsweredQoN 255Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION —
BUSINESS OWNER ASSISTANCE
255. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for Small Business:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to acknowledge Yasmine Martino, the YMCA Youth Parliament representative
for the electorate of Moore, who is in the Speaker's gallery
today.
Will the minister advise how the government, through the
Small Business Development Corporation, is assisting small business owners to
access information relevant to their particular circumstances?
BUSINESS OWNER ASSISTANCE
255. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for Small Business:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to acknowledge Yasmine Martino, the YMCA Youth Parliament representative
for the electorate of Moore, who is in the Speaker's gallery
today.
Will the minister advise how the government, through the
Small Business Development Corporation, is assisting small business owners to
access information relevant to their particular circumstances?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question and for his ongoing
advocacy for the small business owners in his electorate. The Small Business
Development Corporation is the core agency of government that delivers
information, education and advisory services to the small business sector. The
government provides specialist support for the SBDC in five key business areas.
These include finance, marketing, employment and operations, and, of course,
commercial tenancy.
In 2011–12, 43 811 clients contacted the SBDC for
advisory services, and 33 301 business owners contacted the SBDC business
information centre —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, are you uncomfortable there or can we carry on?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Mr Speaker, the minister appears to be reading her answer as
though it is a ministerial statement. I think that is the point that the member
for Girrawheen was making by way of interjection.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, just refer to your notes without reading the answer,
please. Thank you.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Mr Speaker, I am referring to figures in my notes, and I
absolutely reject the premise that I am reading a prepared statement.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : The SBDC also provided 10 500 business advisory and
alternative dispute resolution services, and the SBDC business advisors and ADR
service managers conducted 1 218 direct client sessions with business owners.
People who did not have a face-to-face appointment with the SBDC advisors were
responded to via phone, email or fax, or by letter. Of the commercial tenancy
advisory services, there were 1 350 non-dispute related inquiries and 188 of
those clients were aided by the SBDC in putting forward their applications to
the State Administrative Tribunal for various matters. The SBDC also dealt with
6 657 business licence updates. People can access the SBDC to find out the
range of licences that might be relevant should they choose to start a
business. That information is provided to business owners on application. Also,
1 076 people took up the opportunity to do a BIZBasic course or one of our
online ''succeeding in business'' courses. So the SBDC has been a
very, very busy agency indeed over the 2011–12 financial year.
Members may recall that in 2011 we
introduced legislation to establish the first Small Business Commissioner in
Western Australia and an alternative dispute resolution service. Members may be
interested to know that since 1 July 2012, 1 989 dispute-related inquiries have
been received by the SBDC and 299 of those have been escalated to alternative
dispute resolution case management, with an 80 per cent resolution rate.
When the SBDC surveyed its clients,
95 per cent said that they would access the service again. So I think the SBDC
is doing a very good job, with over 94 per cent of people saying that the
information provided was useful, and 88 per cent of people saying that the
information was valuable and beneficial to them.
The Liberal–National
government will continue to provide ongoing support to the small business
sector, both through the SBDC and through a range of initiatives that will
become apparent over time and through the budget process.
advocacy for the small business owners in his electorate. The Small Business
Development Corporation is the core agency of government that delivers
information, education and advisory services to the small business sector. The
government provides specialist support for the SBDC in five key business areas.
These include finance, marketing, employment and operations, and, of course,
commercial tenancy.
In 2011–12, 43 811 clients contacted the SBDC for
advisory services, and 33 301 business owners contacted the SBDC business
information centre —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, are you uncomfortable there or can we carry on?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Mr Speaker, the minister appears to be reading her answer as
though it is a ministerial statement. I think that is the point that the member
for Girrawheen was making by way of interjection.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, just refer to your notes without reading the answer,
please. Thank you.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Mr Speaker, I am referring to figures in my notes, and I
absolutely reject the premise that I am reading a prepared statement.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : The SBDC also provided 10 500 business advisory and
alternative dispute resolution services, and the SBDC business advisors and ADR
service managers conducted 1 218 direct client sessions with business owners.
People who did not have a face-to-face appointment with the SBDC advisors were
responded to via phone, email or fax, or by letter. Of the commercial tenancy
advisory services, there were 1 350 non-dispute related inquiries and 188 of
those clients were aided by the SBDC in putting forward their applications to
the State Administrative Tribunal for various matters. The SBDC also dealt with
6 657 business licence updates. People can access the SBDC to find out the
range of licences that might be relevant should they choose to start a
business. That information is provided to business owners on application. Also,
1 076 people took up the opportunity to do a BIZBasic course or one of our
online ''succeeding in business'' courses. So the SBDC has been a
very, very busy agency indeed over the 2011–12 financial year.
Members may recall that in 2011 we
introduced legislation to establish the first Small Business Commissioner in
Western Australia and an alternative dispute resolution service. Members may be
interested to know that since 1 July 2012, 1 989 dispute-related inquiries have
been received by the SBDC and 299 of those have been escalated to alternative
dispute resolution case management, with an 80 per cent resolution rate.
When the SBDC surveyed its clients,
95 per cent said that they would access the service again. So I think the SBDC
is doing a very good job, with over 94 per cent of people saying that the
information provided was useful, and 88 per cent of people saying that the
information was valuable and beneficial to them.
The Liberal–National
government will continue to provide ongoing support to the small business
sector, both through the SBDC and through a range of initiatives that will
become apparent over time and through the budget process.
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