CHRONICLE COLUMN – 19 AUGUST 2024 – PRODUCTIVITY
For the third consecutive year, the Toowoomba Performance Sentiment Index Findings of businesses demonstrate that ‘red tape and administrative burden’ remains the number one issue of concern for local businesses.
We all know, a regulatory environment that is excessive and unnecessarily complex, restricts business confidence and where inefficiently implemented, inconsistently enforced and with poor response times and lengthy delays, is a cost burden on business and increases costs of delivery services and products to the ratepayer.
Productivity Gains!
Improving regulatory design will create productivity gains and will result in the right incentives for ongoing small business investment.
Our members argue regulations are not fit for purpose, disadvantaging small business owners. Do you agree?
Our members argue that HR and IR laws are confusing and lack certainty. Do you agree?
Our members argue that constant changes in legislation confuses both workers and business owners. Do you agree?
With a state government election looming large, what would benefit and help small business to thrive? What if our State elected officials agreed to:
– greater accountability by committing to small business that they will implement the Small Business Friendly Program across all State government Departments, with transparent quarterly reporting on achievements.
– a visible mechanism to interrogate and remove excessive, unnecessarily complex regulation to build business confidence and our region’s competitiveness locally, in Queensland and nationally, by introducing a “red tape taskforce” or “Minister for Regulation Reform”.
– an inclusive and collaborative approach to drafting and reviewing regulation that directly involves local businesses, that is open and transparent, achieved through a business liaison program.
– mechanisms for greater accountability around implementation, regulatory response times and understanding the financial impact of new and existing regulation on business and the community in general, through reporting from an independent productivity commission or similar.
Tell us your view? Help us stand up for small business? A state government election is looming.
Let us know your thoughts by emailing admin@toowoombachamber.com.au
