Contents
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Commencement
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Members
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Bills
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Parliamentary Procedure
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Motions
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Bills
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Parliamentary Procedure
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Ministerial Statement
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Parliamentary Procedure
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Parliamentary Committees
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Question Time
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Grievance Debate
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Private Members' Statements
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Bills
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Cheffy Chelby's
The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): My question is to the Minister for Small and Family Business. What action, if any, is the minister taking to support small businesses in Hallett Cove? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.
Leave granted.
The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Earlier this year, Hallett Cove business Cheffy Chelby's was forced to close its doors because of the rising costs of doing business in our state. The owner said:
My rent has gone up, the cost of food has gone up, wages and energy are up.
The Hon. A. MICHAELS (Enfield—Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for Arts) (14:16): As members on this side know who are accustomed to dealing with people in that local area, the actual issue was around a lease and a concern with the landlord, and it has been some time that the Small Business Commissioner has been assisting Cheffy Chelby's. I think throughout 2023 the Small Business Commissioner has attempted to assist Ms Lowe. It was a commercial tenancy dispute in relation to her premises at Port Noarlunga, centred around repairs and maintenance that allegedly had not been undertaken in a timely manner.
Of course, the Small Business Commissioner is still currently attempting to assist the entity. Cheffy Chelby's Pty Ltd has gone into liquidation, and the Small Business Commissioner has continued to reach out to the liquidator to see if there is any ability to facilitate that, but that can only happen with the liquidator's consent and so for a year and a half the Small Business Commissioner has been trying to assist in every way possible.
Of course, the ability to assist will be aided by proposed changes to the Small Business Commissioner Act and the Retail and Commercial Leases Act. That is a bill that is currently before the house. The Small Business Commissioner has been working with Ms Lowe for quite some time to assist in that tenancy dispute, and those local to the area would be well aware of that issue.