Blackwood Totally Locally

Mr DULUK (Davenport) (15:17): I rise today to talk about Totally Locally Blackwood. Last Saturday, 30 May, saw the launch of Totally Locally. You may ask: what is Totally Locally?

Mr Gardner: What is Totally Locally?

Mr DULUK: Totally Locally, to quote Totally Locally, is about opening your eyes to the great independent shops and businesses which, in this case, are the gateway to Blackwood streets and nearby areas. Thirty-three small and local businesses in Blackwood, Coromandel Valley, Hawthorndene and Eden Hills participated in the launch, and I would just like to mention these businesses: Blackwood Butchers, Blackwood Florist, Blackwood Lingerie, The Pilates Studio Blackwood, Willywags, Cherub's, The Artisan Tuck Shop, The Artisan Café, Blackwood Pharmacy, Country Meats, Habitat, Travis Hairdressing, Deb Smith Photography, the Meeting Place, Hillbilly's Café, My Girl Lollipop, Butterfly Press, Market on Main, Blackwood Village Chicken, Seafood & Chargrill, Amanda's Flowers, Urban Spirit, Blackwood Hire Centre, Strike A Light, Blackwood Book Exchange, Elegant Images, Suzies Hair Studio, Blackwood Natural and Remedial Solutions, French Wish, Cutting Connection, Blackwood Recreation Centre, Joan's Pantry, GD Wholesale Fruit & Veg and Coro Continental Meats.

Totally Locally is a concept that began in the United kingdom in 2010. It is an award-winning social enterprise and shop local movement. Totally Locally supports independent retailers, producers, growers and services, be it legal, accounting, real estate, bakeries, florists or any type of small business service.

Essentially, the aim of the campaign is to promote the value of local shopping, celebrate their unique independent businesses and shops, create community events and a sense of community and ultimately lift the local economy. Today, Totally Locally has gone worldwide. It is in over 50 towns in the United Kingdom and many in Australia and New Zealand, including Birdwood, Roxby Downs and now Blackwood in South Australia. It is estimated that in Blackwood, and indeed as part of the greater Davenport area, if every adult spent $10 per week in local independent shops instead of at the supermarkets, chain stores or online, that decision to spend that $10 at a local business would inject an extra $10.6 million into the local economy.

The structure of Totally Locally works on a grassroots basis and is estimated to return a tenfold benefit to that community. In an economic environment of rising unemployment, high youth unemployment, sluggish retail conditions and an inefficient and inflexible state taxation system, the concept of Totally Locally is refreshing. It is proactive and it is a positive step in the wider community ensuring that our small businesses are supported. As we know and as has been said many times, small business is the backbone of our economy. According to national accounting firm BDO, small business enterprises account for approximately 90 per cent of business conducted in South Australia.

The state government has its part in supporting small business and in many ways the government needs to get out of the way of business. In the same BDO survey I mentioned previously, conducted in February 2015, 64 per cent of respondents had encountered state government barriers to operating or expanding their business, with 32 per cent of those respondents advising that the main barrier to their business success was red tape and regulation. Education standards and outcomes, especially in our vocational education sector, WorkCover rates and return to work, a federal wage award structure and many other issues all affect South Australian small business.

Totally Locally is a fantastic concept. It brings down to a community level the importance of supporting our local shops and the vibrancy they give our communities. I encourage other small business hubs to embrace the Totally Locally concept and support and promote small business in their local community. Congratulations to Heather Holmes-Ross, proprietor of The Artisan Tuck Shop & Café in Blackwood, for being the driving force behind this and for encouraging me to dress as the town crier last Saturday, spruiking the benefits of Totally Locally.