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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 161 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

following which any necessary legislative action will be pursued in the spring 2002 sittings of the Assembly.

Mr Speaker, I will now talk about our priorities in relation to economic development, business and tourism. In the lead-up to the election, Labor committed to pursuing policies that encourage maximum private sector economic and employment growth in the ACT and the surrounding capital region, especially the growth of small business. The Labor government will deliver on its commitment to improving Canberra's business base.

A knowledge-based economy board will be established early next year. It will provide advice directly to government on the development of knowledge-based industries, an area of natural advantage for the ACT. The board will be made up of representatives of ACT universities and other research institutions, business, industry and professional organisations, the community sector, the venture capital industry and government.

Some of the board's priority tasks will be to develop proposals for the establishment of a knowledge bank to mobilise the private sector and matching government funds for investment in and support of knowledge-based companies in the ACT; to develop proposals to meet the government's commitment to provide funding in one-for-one matching grants for the strengthening management of high-tech start-up programs; and to develop proposals to commercialise government and public institution intellectual property.

Business Canberra will be established to provide strategic advice to government on business and industry development policy, including budget priorities and trade and export policy. A small and micro business advisory council will also be established to advise on priorities of small, micro, and home-based business sectors. In conjunction with Business Canberra, the council will, as a priority, identify impediments to small business growth as a result of government costs, red tape and duplication.

The council will also identify the special needs of the home-based business sector and how the sector can be most effectively assisted, examine the means of piloting an online interactive small business advisory service, and develop proposals to meet the government's commitment to providing funding under the ACT small business employment ready program.

Mr Speaker, Labor has made a commitment to concentrate on maximising the employment and growth benefits from those industries in which the ACT has a competitive, strategic or natural advantage. A number of activities are under way that will contribute to the achievement of this commitment. A review of the R&D grants scheme will be completed by the end of the year as a first step in meeting the government's commitment to address the gap for seed funding for high-tech and other knowledge-based industries.

A review of the existing small business program will soon commence to ensure the needs of the small and home-based business community are being met. Individual businesses and peak industry groups will be consulted in that review. The bid for the proposed information and communications technology centre of excellence will be completed in

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