The Queensland Government is calling on small business owners and early stage startups with fewer than 20 employees to take part in new consultation panels to assist the development of policy and regulatory changes.
The panels will be involved in policy discussions ranging from licenses and taxation through to procurement and privacy.
The state’s small business minister Shannon Fentiman said the four-year pilot should enhance the relationship between government and small business.
“It is essential that policymakers consider the practical implications of proposals and don’t unnecessarily increase the burden on small business,” she said.
“Whether it is experience in sales and marketing, an understanding of business development or navigating licences and permits, we want people from a variety of business backgrounds so we can draw on their wealth of practical experience and test our policy ideas.”
Queensland small business champion Maree Adshead said the initiative has been welcomed by the state’s small business community.
“The consultation panels will act as a sounding board full of rich and practical experience. It will help to ensure the realities we face when running a small business are considered by our government policy makers and regulators,” she told InnovationAus.com.
“The small business community makes an enormous contribution to our state’s economy and employment. This pilot demonstrates how valued the small business community is in Queensland.”
Small businesses will have until 31 August to register their interest to participate and is only open to those based in Queensland.
The decision to create the panels were a commitment the Queensland government made as part of the state’s elections last year. At the time, the government also released its Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy that set how it would improve the success of small business operations in the state, including simplifying government compliance and streamlining processes.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.