Page 4004 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 25 November 2014
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I have been very interested to see in recent days the discussion about live music venues coming back into the press. We need to ensure that we support live music venues and enable a vibrant night time economy where we can host live music because this promotes a whole range of small businesses, including restaurants, bars and associated industries. There are major problems for live music venues, which include noise regulations. I was pleased to read in today’s paper that some work is being done to relook at that. We need to plan for live music precincts and not end up with a situation that we are now seeing arise at New Acton.
I would like to speak briefly about the potential for what is broadly known as the green economy; the idea that we need to build industries of the future that are making products or providing services in a truly sustainable, environmentally friendly way. These are clearly going to be businesses that have strong prospects into the future as we move forward on a planet where we need to have an economy that is not based so much on the consumption of resources which are limited but, in fact, delivers services and goods in a sustainable way and that meets that limit of resources that are available on this planet.
The ACT economy depends very heavily on federal government expenditure. We are seeing the consequences of that at the moment. We are seeing the highest unemployment figures in many years and issues with gross state final demand as a result of cutbacks by the federal government. This underlines the need for us to promote small business and ensure that the ACT has a diverse local economy that can continue to support this great city.
MR WALL (Brindabella) (4.35): I thank Mr Smyth for bringing this matter of public importance to the Assembly today. As many members would be aware, small business is most definitely something that is very close to my heart, and it is close to my family. I would not have taken the steps to come to this place if it had not been for my experiences in small business.
It is comforting, from the discussion we have had this afternoon, that at least at some level every party in this place understands the importance that small business plays in our economy. When members come to their feet and put their thoughts in Hansard, it is a positive message that is coming out. But like many things, the words are not always followed by actions.
We all know that small businesses are the driving force of our local economy. They employ a large sector of Canberrans and they are small enough to react to opportunities in the market. Small business owners are the innovators of our economy. It is important that government policies are structured to encourage Canberra families to take an opportunity to give an idea a try. Sometimes they might not succeed but, ultimately, if they are not willing to take that risk in the first place, companies such as Aspen Medical, as Mr Smyth mentioned earlier, are not going to thrive and be success stories or become a reality.
The employment opportunities and the jobs that are created through small business are one of the most important parts of our economy. The government policies that affect the ability for a small business to employ have a big influence on the growth and the prosperity of the small business sector in our community.
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