Small and Family Business Support

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Small and Family Business. Can the minister update the house on the supports available to small and family businesses in Whyalla?

The Hon. A. MICHAELS (Enfield—Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for Arts) (15:04): Thank you to the member for Newland for this question. The member for Newland very well understands the significance of us being able to support the some 600 small businesses in Whyalla through a very difficult time. These businesses aren't just the ones directly supporting the steelworks but they are more broadly driving the local economy, providing jobs and helping build the local community. They are at the heart of Whyalla and they deserve a government that does stand with them, and that is exactly what we are doing.

As the Premier just indicated, our government has been working for months, carefully planning and taking decisive action to address the challenges in Whyalla, including planning for the critical need to support small businesses.

When I visited Whyalla three weeks ago, I met with the member for Giles, the chamber, the RDA Eyre Peninsula and small business owners on the ground and that was just before the administrator was appointed. I heard firsthand about the pressures they were facing and the uncertainty that they were feeling and the support they needed to keep going.

Before my visit, I had already set in motion plans to make sure there was a dedicated business support officer from the Office for Small and Family Business on the ground in Whyalla. The officer has been there now for several weeks and will remain there, providing hands-on assistance, helping businesses navigate government services and connecting them with the resources they need, and working very closely with John Chapman.

During my visit, I also heard the need for better access to legal advice. The Attorney-General and I acted immediately to boost legal support in Whyalla, securing additional resources for the Legal Services Commission. Their office now has lawyers available to provide on-the-spot legal advice completely free of charge, regardless of a business's financial position.

But we know that advice alone isn't going to pay the bills, and that is why we have provided direct financial relief to the businesses that are doing it tough. We of course have the $3 million Whyalla Small Local Business Support Grant that is now open, and payments are already flowing. In a matter of days, we have already had some $30,000 delivered to local businesses that have experienced a reduction in revenue due to the downturn of the steelworks. From everything I have heard in Whyalla, I know these $10,000 grants are going to provide critical relief—helping business owners cover their rent, pay their staff and keep their doors open.

The Premier has already spoken about the $50 million creditor assistance scheme. That is already making an impact. I am advised that around $4 million in funding has been requested through submissions from businesses that are owed money by OneSteel and, as the Premier said, that funding is flowing.

These programs and the action taken by the government to put the steelworks into administration mean that, going forward, these businesses can be confident that if they are providing goods or services for the steelworks they are going to get paid for it, and that is critical. Of course, this is only part of our $100 million investment through our Emergency Response Package to support Whyalla. Beyond that immediate relief, we are taking important steps to secure Whyalla's long-term future.

We have a number of other programs that are supporting small businesses, including through the Treasurer establishing the Whyalla Special Economic Zone to give local businesses and workers a competitive edge. Going forward, any state government procurement valued at $220,000 or more in the region, or any project that delivers direct economic benefits, must include a Whyalla Tailored Industry Participation Plan to support local businesses.

We are also providing additional support to the RDA Eyre Peninsula to expand our Small Business Fundamentals Program. There is mental health assistance, including programs like RISE and Mindarma, offering free online support, free mentoring and resilience training, and much more support to small businesses in and throughout Whyalla.