Page 1151 - Week 04 - Friday, 23 April 2021
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It is important to note that the former Stanhope Labor government saw the sense of establishing an ACT small business ministerial advisory council, which it did way back in 2002—19 years ago. In a media release in July 2005, seeking new members, former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope praised the council for contributing to the 2003 economic white paper and new legislation to establish the Office of the Small Business Commissioner. The council met quarterly and was chaired by the ACT Small Business Commissioner Dr Michael Schaper. Interestingly, the position of commissioner was an independent appointment to develop a work program. The work program was designed—I quote from a media release—to “progress the government’s small business friendly aspirational goal”. What a shame that successive Labor governments have abandoned that goal.
This government has established ministerial advisory councils in numerous areas but not for small business. Minister Yvette Berry, on the Ministerial Women’s Advisory Council, says:
The council is an independent voice to raise and debate issues that matter to women. It plays a key role in advising the government on issues of importance to women.
Minister Emma Davidson, on the Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing, says:
It enables critical links between the ACT government and older Canberrans providing strategic advice to the minister, a valuable platform where members can advise government on policy development and decision-making.
Minister Berry again, on the LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council, said:
It has a key role in maintaining Canberra’s reputation as Australia’s friendliest city for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people.
I could go on with similar remarks from ministers about the important role of youth, veterans and multicultural advisory councils, but there is no small business ministerial advisory council.
Imagine Minister Cheyne on her feet announcing the establishment of an ACT small business ministerial advisory council, declaring, “This council is an independent voice to raise and debate issues that matter to small business. It will play a key role in advising the government on issues of importance to small business and improve the status of small business in our community. It will enable critical links between the ACT government and small business, and be a valuable platform where members can advise government on policy development and decision-making.”
Such an advisory council would even save me the job of campaigning for public toilets at Kaleen shops upgrade, because the government would have listened to local traders. I will continue to campaign for toilets at local shops, just as I will continue to lobby for an ACT small business ministerial advisory council in the hope that this government might bring to the decision-making table a small business sector too busy to sit around and talk but so needed to represent a world too often foreign to this government.
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