Small business needs a genuine say in decision-making and the government should establish an ACT Small Business Ministerial Advisory Council.

Shadow Minister for Business Leanne Castley will today introduce a motion in the Legislative Assembly calling on the government to set up a council comprising small business experts – small business owners themselves.

Ms Castley said the government has Ministerial Advisory Councils representing veterans, women, our multicultural sector, older Canberrans, youth and the LGBTIQ+ community but has ignored the small business community.

“A Small Business Ministerial Advisory Council would provide practical, strategic advice to the Chief Minister on policy and comprise the people who most understand small business – the owners themselves,” said Ms Castley.

“It is vital the government understands the issues affecting small business and has policies which help businesses to grow instead of failed schemes like the ChooseCBR trial which only 336 small businesses signed up for.

“The Canberra Liberals want the ACT to be the best small business-friendly place in Australia. To achieve that you need to give small business a real say in decision-making not just set up taskforces and committees.”

The ACT government established a Small and Micro Business Advisory Council in 2002 which was chaired by the ACT Small Business Commissioner.

Former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope praised the council for its “outstanding contribution” but it was disbanded several years later and replaced with an ACT Skills Commission. The Office of the Small Business Commissioner was also abolished after a year.