Small businesses on the Gold Coast and throughout the State have gained a strengthened voice with the first meeting today of a new Queensland Small Business Advisory Council to represent small business interests to the State Government.
Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said the Advisory Council would mean better advocacy and support for Queensland's 448,000 small businesses.
"We have created a well-informed, dynamic and energetic Small Business Advisory Council that is representative and responsive and will advise the Government on the challenges and opportunities for small business," Minister Farmer said.
"The first meeting of the Advisory Council is being held during this opening week of Queensland Small Business Month and illustrates the importance that the Palaszczuk Government attaches to supporting and promoting the small business sector.
"The inception of the Advisory Council follows the role and supporting office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner becoming permanent on Tuesday this week.
"Together, the Advisory Council and the Small Business Commissioner will help ensure that Queensland's small businesses have a strong voice and direct input to the Government on issues important to them."
Minister Farmer said the Advisory Council comprised small business owners and reflected the breadth and depth of the sector throughout the state.
The Council's members are:
- Gerard Byrne, Townsville Consulting Services, Townsville
- Tiffany English, Modus Operandi, Eight Mile Plains
- Laurie Johansen, RPS Fire, Barmaryee (near Yeppoon)
- Dr Dipak Paudyal, APAC Geospatial, Brisbane
- Jennifer Qin, Cool Cartons, Carrara
- Murray Saylor, Tagai Management Consultants, Greater Brisbane area
- Tony Sharp, Substation33, Kingston
- Alison Shaw, Tambo Teddies, Tambo
- Petina Tieman, Complete Business Solutions, Cairns
- Sarah Graham-Hooper, La Vida Restaurant and Privato, Noosa Heads
"The members have been selected from almost 250 submissions and come from locations stretching from Tambo to Townsville and from industries ranging from tourism and hospitality to trades and construction," Minister Farmer said.
Minister for the Environment and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon welcomed the appointment of Jennifer Qin to the Advisory Council.
"It's pleasing to see the small businesses on the Gold Coast will have a direct input into the Advisory Council and via the Council to the Queensland Government by having a local small business owner as one of its members", she said.
Ms Scanlon said that during Queensland Small Business Month, Queenslanders were being asked to actively and tangibly support their local small businesses.
Our small businesses have come through a tough two years and Queensland Small Business Month is a great opportunity for people to provide some much-needed support.
"This month we are encouraging Queenslanders to show their support for small businesses in their suburb or community – by shopping with them, buying from them and doing business with them.
"We are also asking people to show their appreciation for their favourite small business by posting videos, photos and heart-shaped hands-on social media with the hashtag #loveyoursmallbusiness during May," Ms Scanlon said.
For businesses that want to share in Queensland Small Business Month visit: www.business.qld.gov.au/qsbm
