Small Business Centre

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Minister, can you provide details to the house on the Small Business Centre?

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:16): I thank the member for Elder for her question. There are a lot of small businesses in her electorate, and yesterday marked a very significant step forward for them and for the state government's commitment to increase support and information provided to small business because the new Small Business Centre, at 99 Gawler Place, was opened by the Treasurer and myself with over 100 representatives of the small business community present.

The Treasurer was approached by the commissioner last year with plans to bring together services and advice from the Office of the Small Business Commissioner, the Office of the Industry Advocate, and the Department of State Development. This is a one-stop shop for people who are time poor when it comes to dealing with issues that interrupt their endeavours, and it is bringing government services to the street and to the people who need them.

Small businesses are the cornerstone of the South Australian economy, and supporting small businesses to grow is critical to ensure that we become a more prosperous state. There are over 140,000 of them defined as those businesses employing less than 20 people that a minute ago the Leader of the Opposition disparaged, representing 98 per cent of total businesses in the state and accounting for approximately a third of the workforce.

The state government is strongly committed to creating a business environment where both start-ups and established businesses have the opportunity and the capability to grow and to create jobs for South Australia. The Office of the Small Business Commissioner provides services where disputes can be resolved with a minimum of stress as possible to the small business operators. The commissioner provides information to improve the capacity of those businesses to manage their affairs, and to inform their decision-making so disputes are less likely to occur.

Since the establishment of the office, it has gone from strength to strength, and in the past year staff have dealt with 3,219 inquiries (up 15 per cent); 279 formal cases (up 50 per cent); and total cases have increased from 116 to 238. As I mentioned, the new shopfront includes access to the Industry Advocate and to DSD. Ian Nightingale, as the Industry Participation Advocate, has made extraordinary progress. The number of businesses accessing government projects now has increased by almost 40 per cent, from 51 per cent to 90 per cent in 2014-15.

Small business is represented by some 60 separate state organisations, and many of those were represented at yesterday's opening. They will gather again in the first week of December for the eighth Small Business Roundtable, co-chaired by myself and the Treasurer. The round table will give these organisations direct access to senior ministers.

This government has a strong relationship with business across the state because it understands that business is looking for bold ideas and strong leadership. It is in sync with the sector, and that is why it was no surprise to Business SA when they released a statement last night backing the continuation of the nuclear debate—a direct slap in the face to the Leader of the Opposition and his 'dead and buried' line. Small business, too, are following this debate.

Business SA's position is clear, with its spokesperson emailing members to say that, unfortunately, one-upmanship has precluded the long-term methodical consideration of the opportunity. I notice that Senator Sean Edwards and adviser Yeates have also joined in the chorus of condemnation. I know there are members opposite who see this step as a visionary and important one for the state, but the leader risks looking like the captain of the 'do nothing' brigade in losing supporters in the Liberal Party's key demographic by closing down debate on such an important issue, which is important to small business, as it is to all South Australians. You have to have policies and ideas.

The SPEAKER: I think the minister is debating the matter.