20 May 2021
Graham Parker, President - Stanthorpe Chamber of Commerce, Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi, Queensland Small Business Commissioner Maree Adshead and Warwick Chamber of Commerce President, Julia Keogh
The region is home to more than 4,000 small businesses and today Southern Downs Regional Council reinforced its commitment to supporting the local business sector when Mayor Vic Pennisi signed the Small Business Friendly Councils (SBFC) Charter with Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Maree Adshead.
In signing the declaration, Council formally acknowledges the charter’s guidelines to engage, promote and further develop the contributions of small businesses and pledges to be mindful of pertinent issues and priorities when making decisions for the local community.
Mayor Pennisi said he is looking forward to the renewed collaboration between Council and the small business sector and flagged that the signing of the charter would open new doors for economic development across the region.
“Not only do small businesses compliment the economic activity of large organisations by providing the backbone of the supply chains of larger projects, but they are the gateway through which many people enter the economy,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“I am looking forward to growing our engagement with the small business community and facilitating more positive outcomes that further benefit the region’s prosperity and sustainability.
“Let’s cut the red tape and get the Southern Downs economy growing. It is a great place to live, work play and stay and it is Council’s responsibility to make everyday processes as easy as possible so that hard working operators can get on with the business of running their business.”
Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Maree Adshead welcomed Mayor Vic Pennisi and the Southern Downs Regional Council to the Small Business Council Friendly family.
“Family is very much how we see this initiative and the importance of collaboration is critical, and I appreciate Mayor Pennisi’s commitment,” Ms Adshead said.
“We’ve got big plans for this program and I am here to officially welcome Southern Downs into the family of Small Business Friendly Councils and it is super fitting that we are doing so during Queensland Small Business month.
“Signing the charter today is not an endorsement of having arrived at a destination. It is about recognising and valuing the role that small businesses play in this region, recognising that the small business community has a huge job ahead of it in terms of driving Queensland’s economy and understanding the Council’s role in enabling that is really critical.
“It is a commitment around putting the needs of small businesses more front of mind when making policy and regulatory decisions.”
The Southern Downs Regional Council is the 12th regional council to join the initiative along with Toowoomba, Scenic Rim, Mackay, Cairns and Ipswich.
Small businesses are at the core of the Queensland economy and represent over 97% of businesses state-wide. A small business is defined as employing less than 20 people and within the 445,000 small businesses currently operating state-wide account for approximately 44% of all private sector employment.
The SBFC initiative was established by the State Government to recognise and support local councils that are actively supporting small businesses in their area.
By signing the SBFC Charter, Council agrees to:
- a greater focus on helping small businesses to grow and employ more local people
- increased access to tools and resources to support business recovery and resilience
- simplified administration and regulation (reduced red tape)
- increased opportunities to promote and showcase your business
- greater access to fair procurement and prompt payment terms for suppliers to councils.