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Questions On Notice Questions on notice are usually asked when a more detailed answer is required and are in writing, and are forwarded by the Clerk of the Parliament to the relevant Minister who prepares a written answer which is presented to Parliament.
Question on Notice No. 1769 |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Nov 09 2005 |
| Questions On Notice >> |
MR LAWLOR asked the Minister for Small Business, Information Technology Policy and Multicultural Affairs (MR CUMMINS)-
As small business is growing strongly in Queensland, will he detail some of the programs being conducted by the Department of State Development which will be of assistance to small business on the Gold Coast?
ANSWER-
I thank the Member for his question and for his strong support for small business within his electorate. The Beattie Government recognises that small business represents 96.5% of all Queensland businesses and as such, this Government is committed to driving economic growth and innovation, developing business and industry and securing employment opportunities for Queenslanders.
As part of this role, the Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation actively seeks to promote and support small businesses through a range of business assistance and skills development initiatives offered through a statewide network of 19 State Development Centres.
State Development Centre Gold Coast delivers the Department's full range of business skills and export development programs to a region which includes over 46,000 businesses.
Services such as one-to-one business consultations, workshops and seminars, and information regarding the various financial assistance packages available to business can all be obtained from your local State Development Centre.
A particular program of interest to small business is the Small Business Accelerator Program, which provides grants of up to $5,000 for rapidly growing small businesses to develop and then implement sustainable, growth promoting strategies.
Other small business services are provided online through the Smart Small Business website, www.smartsmallbusiness.qld.gov.au, which is the most comprehensive website for small business in Australia. The Smart Small Business website provides a range of Queensland Government services such as SmartLicence Online, Smart Skills Online and the Steps to Growth program. The range of online services is being further expanded to include subjects such as networking, financial analysis, managing for growth and succession planning.
Major outputs for State Development Centre Gold Coast for the 2004-2005 financial year included:
- delivery of 53 workshops and seminars to 1,015 small to medium sized businesses;
- provision of 127 business information packages;
- delivery of 13 Exporter Development initiatives to Queensland business;
- delivery of 14 business and industry development forums to 357
Queensland business and industry participants;
- delivery of 17 grants to Queensland business and industry under the Queensland Industry Development Scheme and the Small Business
Accelerator Program;
- delivery of 1,969 significant one-on-one business consultations to assist Queensland business; and
- assisting four skilled migrants to Queensland, bringing the total in the Gold Coast region to 21 new and established skilled migrants.
Grant funding targeted export and strategic planning; product, process and business development; and process design. Projected outcomes from grant funding provided in 2004/2005 include approximately 159 new jobs, increases in export sales of up to $16.1 million and anticipated domestic sales of $54.6 million.
Small business can obtain information on business support activities through the Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation's website, www.sdi.qld.gov.au, or through the Department's Call Centre on 1300 363 711 or 13 26 50.Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 11:00 PM
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