Last week in Parliament, I took the opportunity to highlight and call for greater support to mitigate the challenges faced by our small and family businesses across Queensland. When it comes to the Queensland Government, they have been the “forgotten people” of the past two years of pandemic rules and regulations – and they have borne great costs. Now, in the last week, many have been impacted by the flood in some way. They need a break. In Parliament, I said, while examining the Government’s claim for another $479 million from you, the taxpayer, to account for overspending in the last year:

"In the Scenic Rim electorate, local hospitality businesses have suffered due to the COVID-19 regulations…one hotelier told me their income basically evaporated overnight because a huge amount of their patrons could not enter the pub. Was there any support for these businesses? None. They were left to fend for themselves. A café in a shopping centre faces massive costs in policing mandates in a ridiculous situation where their seating in a common area is subject to a mandate while common seating two or three metres away is not. People can freely walk past the café within centimetres of patrons without restriction and yet the café has to bear all the costs of policing this. People not surprisingly ask: what is the point? Was there any support for the community at this time from this government? No. None. Not a cent for these businesses, unlike in New South Wales, Victoria or South Australia that have implemented packages to support small businesses in these situations."

Through all of this, many in business have had to borrow, cut staff hours and work more themselves, and in some cases choose not to pay themselves so they can keep paying staff. To them all, I say – thank you. It is amazing how many people simply keep going when times are so tough, although there are also some who can't keep going and endure the stress of closing down. Pointless regulations simply add to the very high cost of growing or going into business in this State, whether because of State or local government rules. 

This "red-tape" burden must be cut. It's too hard for small businesses to grow – it's like you need to have lots of money already in order to really grow an idea. Some of the greatest innovations in history have come from those who started out with virtually nothing – and yet, at present, the hoops people must jump through to go into significant business operations make this highly unlikely. Innovation is smothered by a massive process, paid for by businesses and those wishing to go into business, and passed on to everybody through prices. I have called on the Queensland Government to embark on a project to relieve this burden at both the State and local level to unleash the potential of all of Queensland. 

To contact my office, call 1800 813 960 or email scenicrim@parliament.qld.gov.au