BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRES

334 Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (23 August 2011) (First Session). With respect to 2011-12 Budget Paper 4—Volume 4, p47—

What is the status of the funding and timetable for budget cuts to BECs and what is the future of the organisation and its members?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business): I am advised the State Government previously contributed to operational funding of nine Business Enterprise Centres (BECs) in metropolitan Adelaide through three year funding agreements, which concluded on 30 June 2011.

This funding was only one of several sources of funding for BECs. Eight of the nine BECs receive federal government funding and I am advised that current federal funding agreements will continue until 30 June 2012. The only BEC not receiving federal funding is Enterprise Adelaide, which is a business unit of Adelaide City Council.

BECs also receive funding from Local Government through independent funding agreements with their respective local councils. The Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy is continuing to work with BECs to become self sustaining and reduce their reliance on public funding.