Minister for Small Business Julie Collins today hosted a roundtable with her state and territory counterparts, in the first meeting of its kind in eight years.
The Ministers discussed opportunities for national collaboration around small business productivity, regulation and resilience.
State and territory ministers shared the issues facing small business in their jurisdictions and the strategies they are developing.
Ministers also had an opportunity to highlight local products from across the country, encouraging Australians to shop small this Christmas.
Minister Collins said the Albanese Government is committed to helping small businesses prosper, and making sure they get the support they need to face the challenges they are confronted with.
“Small businesses are the engine room of Australia’s economy,” she said.
“We want to help improve the long‑term resilience of Australia’s small businesses and help them bounce back following significant challenges in recent years.”
The past six months has seen the Albanese Government deliver for small businesses by:
- Strengthening protections for small businesses from unfair contract terms;
- Making it easier for small and medium size businesses to access Government procurement contracts;
- Funding an energy savings grant program for small and medium sized businesses, helping them reduce energy use and lower energy bills;
- Providing more than $15 million to support small business owners with free mental health support and financial counselling; and
- Starting work towards improving payment times for small businesses.
Minister Collins said she would continue to work closely with the states and territories as the Albanese Government continues to deliver for small business across the country.