Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer, Kelly O’Dwyer MP, today announced the establishment of seven new Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) as part of the Northern Australia Tourism Initiative.
“The organisations to be offered $4.6 million over the next three years are based in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
The successful organisations are:
- Gulf Savannah Development
- Far North Queensland Promotion Bureau
- Cape York Sustainable Futures
- Business Enterprise Centre Darwin Region (Top End)
- Business Enterprise Centre Darwin Region (Central Australia)
- Small Business Centre East Kimberley
- Karratha Business Enterprise Centre
“The grants, which are each worth $600,000 over three years, are designed to build the capacity of established not-for-profit small business advisory services to provide low-cost advice to tourism small businesses and tourism start-ups in Australia’s north,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
“This initiative builds on the existing ASBAS programme, which is delivered across Australia. It is part of our broader economic strategy to make Australia the best place to start and grow a small business – by making sure conditions are right, and information is available, so they can flourish.
“Around 100,000 small businesses operate in northern Australia, and many of them are tourism-related. The Australian Government is committed to realising the potential of this area, and this funding will increase the capacity of successful organisations to provide expert, tailored advice to small businesses seeking to increase their success in the tourist market.
“The Government will work with the successful advisory service providers to enter into a funding agreement, and expects that providers will commence delivering advice to tourism small businesses and tourism start-ups in Australia’s north by May 2016.
Further information on developing northern Australia is available on the Office of Northern Australia website. Information on the ASBAS programme is available on the business.gov.au website or by contacting 13 28 46.
Organisation nameStateGrant amount (over three years)
Gulf Savannah DevelopmentQLD$600,000 (GST exclusive)
Far North Queensland Promotion BureauQLD$600,000 (GST exclusive)
Cape York Sustainable FuturesQLD$600,000 (GST exclusive)
Business Enterprise Centre Darwin Region
(Top End)NT$600,000 (GST exclusive)
Business Enterprise Centre Darwin Region
(Central Australia)NT$600,000 (GST exclusive)
Small Business Centre East KimberleyWA$600,000 (GST exclusive)
Karratha Business Enterprise CentreWA$600,000 (GST exclusive)