THE nationwide small business roadshow headed by Small Business Minister Michael McCormack with leaders from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Tax Office (ATO) has moved to Queensland’s Gympie and Sunshine Coast regions today.
Mr McCormack said each roadshow visit focuses on different local issues which help him work on behalf of small business in Government.
“Every community and every business is unique. This is why I am taking my roadshow to a range of communities in the cities, the suburbs and country towns and villages – to get as much feedback from Australian small businesses as I can,” Mr McCormack said.
“Today I have visited a number of small businesses with Llew O’Brien – from cafés to engineering firms and local traders – to see first-hand the scale and diversity of the Sunshine Coast small business sector.
“These local small businesses create local jobs. Small businesses, such as those Llew and I visited today, provide the services and opportunities we need in country communities. That is why I encourage all Australians, especially regional Australians, to shop local and support local jobs.
“I understand the pressures small businesses face that is why the Government is working to cut company tax for them so they have more money to reinvest and create jobs, and to make their paperwork simpler so they have more time to spend with their families.”
Local MP Llew O’Brien said Gympie’s CPM Engineering is an award-winning local small business which is why he wanted to showcase its operations to the Minister.
“Starting with his first apprentice in 2006, Jason McPherson and his team at CPM Engineering has continued to employ three apprentices each year, including some school-based apprentices,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Through giving Gympie’s young people a start, CPM has helped create local jobs and opportunities, whilst making award-winning metal fabrication and spray-painting, keeping more of our young people staying and settling in Gympie and even going on to start their own small business.”
Today’s visit comes following the Government’s expansion of the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) last week. The expansion adds 2,300 places to the scheme, alongside launching workshops and practical website support for young people who want to be their own boss.
“Small business is built from a spark of an idea, hard work and dedication. With more and more Australians – particularly young people – seeing the opportunities small business has to pursue their dream, the Government is here to back them,” Mr McCormack said.
“I want more young people in Gympie throughout the Sunshine Coast to have a go and start their own small business, to help see more country success stories such as CPM in the future.”
Mr McCormack held a roundtable with Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell and leaders from the ACCC and ATO in Gympie today before traveling to Noosa for a small business forum. The roadshow will head to Sydney later this week.