Chamber calls for end of ‘revolving door’ small business minister
28 May 2010
NSW’s largest business organisation is calling for the abolition of NSW’s small business minister after an analysis revealed that there have been seven small business ministers over the last three years with an average term of just six months.
NSW Business Chamber said small business would be better served by the creation of a full-time Small Business Commissioner as part of a restructure of the government’s business departments into a Department of Business Growth, as outlined in the NSW Business Chamber’s pre-election policy blueprint, “10 Big Ideas to Grow NSW”.
|
Ministers for Small Business |
Term |
Time |
|
Frank Terezini |
21/05/2010 |
current |
|
|
Peter Primrose |
08/12/2009 |
21/05/2010 |
5 mths 14 days |
|
Steve Whan |
30/01/2009 |
04/12/2009 |
10 mths 5 days |
|
Jodi McKay |
11/11/2008 |
30/01/2009 |
2 mths 20 days |
|
Ian McDonald (acting) |
04/11/2008 |
11/11/2008 |
8 days |
|
Tony Stewart |
08/09/2008 |
04/11/2008 |
2 mths 4 days |
|
Joe Tripodi |
02/04/2007 |
05/09/2008 |
1yr 5mths 6 days |
|
Average |
6 months |
“Small businesses in NSW are not being adequately represented by the parade of small business ministers who have been appointed, dismissed or promoted over the last three years,” said Stephen Cartwright, CEO of NSW Business Chamber.
“The small business minister has become a tokenistic role to pay lip service to the concerns of small businesses rather than being a strong advocate for small business.”
Mr Cartwright said the call to abolish the small business minister was not a reflection of the people who have filled the role but the attitude that the NSW Government has towards small business.
“The small business portfolio shouldn’t be used as the proving ground for new ministers on their way up the ministerial ladder. It’s an insult to the 300,000 employing small business owners in NSW who are 100% committed to their businesses – they expect the same commitment from the Government.
“Small businesses employ more than half of all private sector employment in NSW, yet they aren’t being properly represented within the Government.”
Mr Cartwright said the creation of a Small Business Commissioner, modelled on the highly successful Commissioner in Victoria, would provide small business with an advocate and a dispute resolution mechanism in dealing with big business and with the administration and market practices of State Government agencies.
“The Small Business Commissioner would be a set-term appointment that would provide more stability and reliability for small businesses than the current average six-month turn over of small business ministers.” | 
Latest News