Page 980 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
address remuneration issues. There is the need for entrepreneurial skills and development and an organisational ability to change with the times. And there are considerations on matters such as exit strategies and general transition of family businesses.
As an economic sector reported to be worth in excess of $4.3 trillion and accounting for approximately 70 per cent of all businesses, the one-size-fits-all approach on how we support family businesses is inadequate. To rectify this begins with first acknowledging there is a need for data and statistics on family businesses. ABS data publications such as counts of Australian business operators and forms of employment survey are inadequate and do not directly address family business issues. Equally, the ABS confirm that information identifying family businesses was only collected in the 2004-05 panel 1 of the business longitudinal databases. However, family businesses were excluded from 2005-06 onwards.
Just as you cannot manage what you cannot count, without adequate data to inform its initiatives, government cannot properly support family businesses without fully understanding what is there. So on that note, I commend Mr Smyth for his motion. I thank other members for their broad support of this motion. I believe it may be the first time that a parliament in Australia has in this way directly acknowledged the contribution of family businesses to this country. If that is the case, we are proud that that has happened here in the ACT. It is a reflection of our commitment to business and it is a reflection of our commitment to and our acknowledgement of the wonderful work that is done by family businesses both here in the ACT and right around the country.
MR COE (Ginninderra) (10.48): I, too, want to add my voice to this debate and, in doing so, give my full support to family businesses across my electorate of Ginninderra, across Canberra and indeed across Australia, for the integral role they play in our economies, but also in our communities.
Mr Smyth’s motion is correct. It is appropriate that this Assembly notes “the important role that family businesses play in an Australian society through creating wealth, generating employment, delivering services and supporting their communities”. After all, businesses are community groups. The local shops are community groups. When the local businessperson comes around and visits your particular place of residence or your business, that is a community service. The fact that you are paying for it does not change the fact that it is a vital community service.
In my mind, the concept of family business is a superb union of two great institutions that are vital for our modern Western democratic society. I said in my maiden speech in 2008:
I believe the family is the most important institution and we must do all that we can to support and encourage families and the important role they play in our society.
The concept of a family business, with people using their collective skills to contribute to our economy, is a noble one, and one that we on this side of the chamber
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video