Public consultation is open on the NSW Government’s Small Business Strategy which will chart the course over the next three years for about 800,000 small businesses across the state.
NSW Small Business Minister, Eleni Petinos, said that feedback from industry would assist in developing a strategy that promoted a thriving, dynamic and innovative small business community, accounting for the current climate and providing a blueprint for the future.
“The public consultation will afford stakeholders the opportunity to have their say on the new strategy because we know that some of the best ideas will come from small businesses themselves.
“Over the past two years unprecedented levels of support have been provided to small businesses to withstand the impacts of COVID, but now we need to look forward and develop policy settings for the future,” Petinos said.
Various small business associations are encouraging their members to participate in the public consultation period, including the Master Grocers Australia, the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia, Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association and the Restaurant and Catering Australia.
CEO of Restaurant and Catering Australia, Wes Lambert, said that after an exceptionally challenging period, his members welcomed further consultation from the NSW Government on the path forward.
“Our members were some of the hardest hit during the pandemic,” he said.
“The next few years will be crucial to thousands of small businesses in the restaurant and catering sector and close cooperation with government will be essential.”
Small businesses seeking to have their say or looking for further information can do so at: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/small_business_strategy.
Sue Murray