This month, we’ve had the pleasure of making new friends to get better outcomes for small businesses across Queensland!
First, we met Charles Burke, the Queensland Food Farmers Commissioner. Charles leads an independent role, born out of the supermarket prices inquiry, to convince supermarkets to treat farmers fairly. With agriculture being one of Queensland’s top industries, particularly in our rural, regional, and remote communities, his work is vital. As agribusiness continues to evolve, it’s crucial that the supply chain from farms to consumers stays efficient and strong.
We’ve also had the chance to sit down with John “JC” Collins, the newly appointed Night Life Economy Commissioner. Like the Food Farmers Commissioner, JC’s role is independent of government, and he’ll be working closely with live music venues, night clubs, bars, restaurants, festival organisers, arts outlets, local pubs, and entertainment precincts to boost the night economy across the state. This is great news for small businesses in these industries, and we’re already discussing key issues they face. We’re looking forward to collaborating with both commissioners in the coming months.
In addition to these collaborations, we’re increasing our efforts to ensure the voices of small business owners from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are part of our ongoing advocacy. Queensland is home to over 160 culturally diverse communities, and in 2001 it was identified that 22.3% of Queenslanders were born overseas and nearly 7% speak a language other than English at home. This month, we’ve connected with business leaders from the Vietnamese, Filipino, Indian, and Sri Lankan communities as we work toward establishing a small business multicultural roundtable. If you’re a small business owner from a culturally diverse background, we’d love to hear from you—your voice matters, and we want to ensure it’s part of the conversation. Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
Our travels also took us to Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, and the Sunshine Coast meeting with member councils of our Small Business Friendly (SBF) Program and business chambers. Each year the member councils give us their Annual Report about their SBF initiatives and successes. It was great to be with Rockhampton Regional Council as their report was presented. With a renewed focus on small business, they’ve developed a local government procurement training program, created a business networking calendar, launched new grants for façade improvements and incentives to convert main street commercial property into accommodation—helping businesses house staff and boost the local economy.
I continue to be inspired by the commitment of our SBF Program members and how they keep coming up with new ways to support their small business community. Their efforts are making a tangible difference, and it’s wonderful to see the impact they’re having on the lives of Queensland business owners.
Of course, we understand the challenges small businesses face—especially around accessing capital. We’ve heard from many small business owners how difficult this can be, and this is often due to 80% of business finance being tied to a home loan, bank closures in regional, rural, and remote areas, and poor understanding of other business investment opportunities. However, there’s hope. This week, I had the pleasure of participating in a consultation with Wayne Gerard, a former Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, who is advocating for better capital pathways. There’s a growing interest from investors to better understand the needs of small businesses and provide education around venture capital and equity raising, which is promising for the future.
Lastly, a shout-out to our Assistance team and mediators. They’re working incredibly hard on the front line, helping small business owners every day. Their work has contributed to a 65% decrease in landlord-tenant disputes for the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, as indicated in their Annual Report. This is a huge achievement, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team’s efforts.
As we continue to push forward through these challenging times, remember there are opportunities and support available for small business, and one conversation can be all it takes to make the difference. We’re here for you! 1300 312 344
Upcoming activities
- 11 – 14 November – Blackall-Tambo SBF Charter Signing
- 14 – 15 November – Destination Q & Destination IQ
- 20 November – Somerset Chamber Business Event
- 25 November – Global Empowering Women Organisation (GEWO) Symposium
Connect with us
If you are new to our newsletter or want to learn more about our services, resources, initiatives, and projects, visit the QSBC website. If you need more information, call us on 1300 312 344 or submit an enquiry.
Dominique Lamb
Queensland Small Business Commissioner
For more details, read the QSBC newsletter October 2024