- Barcaldine Regional Council becomes Queensland's 48th council to formally commit to backing local small business to thrive.
- The Regional Council today signed the Miles Government's Small Business Friendly (SBF) Program Charter.
- The Small Business Friendly Charter is a Queensland Small Business Commissioner initiative.
Barcaldine Regional Council in Outback Queensland has made a formal commitment to supporting the region's small businesses to grow and create more good local jobs for Queenslanders.
The Council is one of 48 to sign the Small Business Friendly Charter, an initiative of the Miles Labor Government's Queensland Small Business Commissioner.
Launched in 2020, the Small Business Friendly Charter brings together the support of the Miles Government, local councils and large enterprises to help small businesses thrive and grow local jobs.
Being small business friendly means considering the impact of Council decisions on small operators including purchasing and payment practices, tenders and Council policies.
By signing the charter, Barcaldine Regional Council also commits to tracking and promoting Council's progress on business-friendly initiatives.
Quotes attributable to Small Business Minister Lance McCallum:
"Queensland is home to more than 482,000 small businesses who create good local jobs and contribute up to $117 billion a year to the State's economy.
"From tourism operators to the local roadhouse, small businesses are the engine room of the local economy in the Barcaldine region.
"It's terrific to see Barcaldine Regional Council become the 48th Queensland Council to sign the Small Business Friendly Charter, putting small businesses at the centre of local initiatives and decision-making.
"By being small business friendly, we're backing local small businesses to thrive and invest in more jobs and services for Outback Queenslanders."
Quotes attributable to Barcaldine Regional Council Mayor Sean Dillon:
"For Barcaldine Regional Council, joining the Small Business Friendly program is a demonstration of our ongoing and deep commitment to all small businesses covering the communities of Alpha, Jericho, Barcaldine, Aramac, and Muttaburra.
"By signing the SBF Charter today, we are committed to continually working with our local small businesses in order to improve how we collectively do business."
Quotes attributable to the Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Dominique Lamb:
"We welcome Barcaldine Regional Council to the SBF family. By joining the SBF Program today, it demonstrates their commitment to working together to enhance the operating environment for small businesses.
"Our team is committed to supporting the council and the local small business community to help deliver real benefits for the region. We are confident Barcaldine Regional Council will learn a lot from the great work being done by other SBF Program members."
More on the Small Business Friendly Charter program is at: https://qsbc.qld.gov.au/the-small-business-friendly-program/
Broadcast audio of Minister McCallum and pics of Barcaldine Regional Council's Small Business Friendly Charter signing are here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/qh9fehq24ly3xj2ck53x7/h?rlkey=eczi9jurek6y0yu2gp0cltnyd&dl=0
