Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide guidance and advice to local small businesses that want to contribute to the Andrews Labor government’s small business retail regulation review. In late 2015 the minister visited Craigieburn Plaza and Craigieburn Central to speak with a number of small business owners, operators, and managers about the issues that were of concern to them. This was well received by all, with attendees speaking directly and frankly to the minister about their concerns, including an increasing regulatory burden. That is why I was so pleased when the small business retail regulation review was announced earlier this year.

The Yuroke electorate is community minded, and residents support our local small businesses that employ so many of our friends, neighbours and loved ones. We have to get it right in terms of the regulatory environment, and that is why this review is so important. I know that small business owners and operators in the electorate would welcome an update from the minister as to how they can contribute to this important review.

Answer:

I refer to the matter raised by the Member for Yuroke, Ms Ros Spence MP, during the Adjournment Debate in the Legislative Assembly on 14 September 2016, regarding an update on the government wide review into regulation affecting Victoria’s small business community.

Firstly, I am grateful for the opportunity to have visited a number of small business owners in Craigieburn and to have heard their concerns regarding the impact of regulation firsthand. The community focused nature of the small businesses within the Yuroke electorate is both heartening and inspiring, creating positive outcomes in the local economy with increased opportunity for employment and investment.

In order to enhance the success of local business communities such as this, it is essential that small business owners are not tied up with excessive red tape. This is why I am extremely proud to be the lead Minister for the Small Business Regulation Review.

The Small Business Regulation Review will help to deliver on an election commitment to reduce the burden of unnecessary and ineffective regulation impacting on Victoria’s small business community by 25%. The Review will formally examine the impact of regulation on small businesses in a number of business sectors, with the initial focus on the retail sector.

The Review is now coming to the end of the formal public consultation stage for the retail sector, with businesses all over Victoria contributing their stories and experiences with regulation, and the cost it incurs on their business.

Small business owners that have not had the opportunity to attend a roundtable consultation event, or make a submission to the Review by the September 30 closing date are still welcome to provide feedback via the Review’s website www.vic.gov.au/smallbizreview or email at smallbiz.review@ecodev.vic.gov.au. The Review team is keen to engage with small business owners throughout the project to understand more about their experiences and gather their ideas for change.

Thank you again for the information you have provided through the Victorian Parliament. I look forward to working in partnership with you and other Members of Parliament to continue promoting the Small Business Regulation Review to local businesses, and cutting unnecessary red tape impacting on the ability of small business to provide opportunities for growth, innovation and employment.

Hon Philip Dalidakis MP
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade