The role of the Queensland Small Businesses Commissioner has been made permanent and will take on an expanded role to assist more small businesses to start and grow in the state.
Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said the Small Business Commissioner Bill had now passed Parliament, which added to the functions the temporary commissioner had been delivering as part of the Queensland Government's COVID-19 economic response.
"The Small Business Commissioner Bill delivers on the Queensland Government's Big Plans for Small Business Strategy commitment to establish a permanent commissioner role and office in Queensland. Under the Strategy, the Government has committed $140 million over two years to help the state's small businesses grow and thrive," Minister Farmer said.
"Since May 2020, the Office of the Small Business Commissioner has performed fantastic work to support small businesses with dispute resolution services for COVID-19 affected lease disputes and small business tenancy disputes. It has also provided a trusted source of information for small businesses and a pipeline for their feedback back to government.
"The permanent Commissioner will continue this important work in providing dispute resolution and low-cost mediation services for retail shop lease disputes under the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994, other small business lease disputes and small business franchise disputes, saving businesses time and money.
"Importantly the Commissioner will provide small business with an easy to access, central point of contact in government, making it easier for small business to access support, information and advice."
Following assent, the new legislation will take effect on 3 May 2022 and will mean Queensland small businesses have a strong advocate to work with all levels of government and engage with commissioners from other states, to share successes and tackle challenges collaboratively.
"Our current temporary Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Maree Adshead, has played a valuable engagement and advocacy role as we have managed the impacts of COVID-19 on our economy, including leading engagement with local governments through the Small Business Friendly Program and the Summertime Taskforce," Minister Farmer said.
