Media
Release
The Hon Dr
Craig Emerson MP
13 May
2008
BUDGET PROVIDES $42 MILLION FOR ONE-STOP SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY
CENTRES
Small Business
Minister Craig Emerson said tonight the first Rudd Labor Government
Budget provides $42 million to fund one-stop small business
advisory centres across Australia.
The funding
will support 36 Business Enterprise Centres in suburban, rural and
regional Australia.
Dr Emerson
said: "Small businesses have told us that what they really want is
one-stop business advice, so that they don't have to go from place
to place to obtain legal, tax, accounting and marketing
advice".
"The funding
will enable 36 Business Enterprise Centres to strengthen and expand
their capacity to help small business debutantes and those already
in operation", Dr Emerson said.
The previous
Government had funded the small business field officer network only
until 30 June 2009. In place of an expiring program, the Government
is funding a commitment of $42 million over four years.
Dr Emerson
said: "This new $42 million small business program is part of the
Government's overall small business strategy that includes cutting
red tape in 27 areas of business regulation, amending the law to
prevent powerful businesses from misusing their market power
against small businesses, tax relief for small business owners,
easing skill shortages and a national high-speed broadband
network".
The funding
decision meets Labor's election commitment to support more than 30
advisory centres around Australia.
 BEC Australia's
Response:
BEC Australia
to receive $42 million in Federal Government funding for small
business support
BEC Australia
today confirmed that under the Rudd Government $42 million in
funding will be provided over the next four years, or $10.5 million
per year, to enable Business Enterprise Centres to continue their
support for small businesses across Australia.
The Federal
Government is significantly increasing funding to BECs in
recognition of the valuable support they provide to the small
business sector, and will allow them to upgrade their services in
areas such as mentoring, training programs and business
analysis.
Under the
Australian Labour Party’s Small Business policy announced during
the election campaign and since reconfirmed by Dr Craig Emerson,
Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors, and the
Service Economy, BECs will play a key role in the delivery of
assistance to small and micro business.
“The funding
provided will enable BECs to build on their existing services and
provide greater advice and assistance to small business owners and
intenders” said Peter Murray, BEC Australia Chair. “BEC Australia
is an apolitical organisation which supports the network of
community based BECs and we welcome funding from all sources. This
announcement is a win for small business, we welcome it and
congratulate the ALP on this policy initiative.“
BECs, which have been providing small business assistance across
Australia for the past 20 years, are not-for-profit community based
organisations. They are designed to facilitate the creation,
retention and development of sustainable business enterprises and
foster local economic development via practical confidential
business facilitation services. They are located in metropolitan,
regional and rural areas.
“BEC Australia
supports BECs in their delivery of services to the small and micro
businesses of Australia,” Mr Murray said. “Through BEC Australia,
each BEC has access to the talents and resources of all BECs in the
BEC Australia network plus strategic partner resources to provide
quality business assistance. These vital partnerships provide BEC
clients access to a wealth of professional services and knowledge
not easily available elsewhere.”
BECs are well equipped to support the needs of small and micro
businesses throughout their stages of development – from
commencement to operation and growth, through to succession
planning and implementation.
The strength of the BEC network is that it provides independent
confidential competent business counselling and other practical
assistance to foster viable local businesses in order to boost
sustainable economic development through the business
sector.
“BEC Australia
also notes that the Rudd Government recently announced changes to
the Trade Practices Act which will help protect businesses against
predatory pricing,” Mr Murray said. “BEC Australia joins other
business groups such as the Australian Industry Group, the
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Council of
Small Business Organisations of Australia in welcoming this
change.”
Ends.
For further
information, please contact
Peter Murray
Chair, Business Enterprise Centres
03 8892 2003 | 