VAILO Company

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. What support, if any, is the minister providing to small businesses who are alleged creditors of VAILO? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I wrote to the minister over the weekend to raise concerns of Mr Matt Kowald, who raised concerns with me regarding allegedly unpaid invoices to his business.

The Hon. A. MICHAELS (Enfield—Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for Arts) (14:38): Yes, the Leader of the Opposition was busy. I think it might have been something like a 10.30pm letter on a Sunday night. Two creditors have been raised. One is a gentleman who made initial inquiries with the Small Business Commissioner. Information was provided to him. He has not returned for that assistance from the Small Business Commissioner, but that is obviously available to him.

With respect to the Leader of the Opposition's letter on Sunday, it has been given to the Small Business Commissioner. Obviously, the Small Business Commissioner does provide advice to small businesses that are having these sorts of issues with free—

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni: Did she say, 'Don't do business with VAILO who never pays?' Was that the advice?

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley can leave the chamber until the end of question time.

The honourable member for Unley having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. A. MICHAELS: If small businesses are having issues receiving payment from any party, the Small Business Commissioner provides free advice and provides mediation services. Your particular constituent has been referred to the Small Business Commissioner to provide that advice. Anyone who has those concerns can obviously go to the Small Business Commissioner.

It is an excellent service that is provided by the state government, and we have seen significant improvements in the last little while from the Small Business Commissioner with these services. We are investing in small business in South Australia and, from your constituent's point of view, I encourage you to point him or her in the right direction towards the Small Business Commissioner to provide that advice.