Hit a roadblock in your small or family business? This is something I completely relate to as a former small business owner which is why I am excited to see the Crisafulli Government continuing to deliver for the 495,000 small and family business across Queensland.
All small and family businesses are now encouraged to share their red tape situations through an online form. Phase one of feedback was focused on Queensland’s 120 Chambers of Commerce, and phase two is now open to all small and family businesses from all industries.
What is Red Tape?
- Red tape includes the legislation, regulations, policies, procedures and practices that have been created by government to protect our quality of life, public health and safety, social wellbeing, consumer confidence, education and training, environmental protection and so forth.
- While we can all appreciate the benefits that some red tape can provide, sometimes it has unintended consequences such as increasing the burden of compliance, increased costs, lost time or delays, unnecessary complications, additional administration, and duplication.
- Reducing red tape can streamline processes, reduce costs, save time, lower stress, improve productivity, enhance government services, and ultimately boost our economy. Working to improve our regulatory environment is good for everyone.
Have Your Say
This new form allows you to tell us about your red tape examples of a Queensland state or local government law, policy, process, or practice that is too complex, takes too long, costs too much, adds little value, or that is duplicative or wasteful along with the solution you think could resolve it.
For privacy and confidentiality reasons, please do not include any personal, sensitive or commercially valuable information.
As this information is being collected to help provide insight into how we can reduce red tape for Queensland small and family businesses, no individual feedback on submissions will be provided.
As part of its 100 Day Plan, the Crisafulli Government has already delivered on its commitment to refocus the Small Business Commissioner on red tape reduction and dispute resolution.
After a decade of the former Labor Government’s red tape restrictions, Queensland experienced the highest failure rate of businesses anywhere in the country with 30% failing within the first five years.
Business Chamber Queensland revealed the cost of regulation has doubled in two years to $50,000, and on average business were having to engage the equivalent of a fulltime employee just to manage regulation.
Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin said the Crisafulli Government’s actions would allow small businesses to unleash their full potential.
“Feedback is now open to all 495,000 small and family businesses across Queensland from tradies to tourism operators, and cafes to clothing stores,” Minister Minnikin said.
“Some of the feedback we’ve already received includes language on government forms being too complicated, contradicting information from different areas of government or duplication in auditing and monitoring requirements.
“Small and family businesses are telling us that growing red tape and inefficient regulation is stifling their business growth and competitiveness.
“Unlike the former Labor Government, we want to see small businesses not only survive but thrive.”
Mr Minnikin said work was already under way to cut red tape across Queensland Government.
“The Crisafulli Government has already taken steps to cut red tape, including the Building Reg Reno to reduce red tape and unnecessary costs for builders, tradies and subbies,” he said.
“We’ve reinstated the Productivity Commission and paused Labor’s Best Practice Industry Conditions, stopping many additional costs and red tape flowing through to small and family businesses.”
The red tape reduction form is available through the Queensland Small Business Commissioner’s website at https://qsbc.qld.gov.au/advocacy/red-tape-examples/
