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small business | February 08, 2016

Wimmera small businesses miss out again

Emma Kealy, Nationals Member for Lowan is astonished the Labor Government has yet again ignored local businesses in this year’s Small Business Workshops program.

“Last year Horsham missed out hosting an event as part of the Melbourne Labor Government’s Small Business Festival, which aims to provide ideas and information on how to start, operate and grow a small business,” Ms Kealy said.

“This year there are more than 350 workshops being held across Victoria as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s 2016 Small Business Victoria Workshops program, but not one of the 350 events will be held in the Wimmera.

“Horsham is our biggest regional city and Labor has neglected to support our small businesses by refusing to hold a workshop locally.

“The Coalition recognised Horsham as one of ten regional cities that would receive additional funding to help support growth into the future. The decision by the Labor Government to exclude the Wimmera from the program has once again demonstrated Labor only cares about the city.

Small businesses are the major employment sector for the Wimmera region, providing not only jobs but an important input to the local economy.

“We have seen more than 12,000 job losses in North West Victoria over the past 12 months and are experiencing the impact of another dry season. It is astonishing that Labor have again refused to recognise the need to support our Wimmera businesses,” Ms Kealy said.

“Surely businesses in the Wimmera deserve at least one local Small Business Workshop so that they have access to the same opportunities to learn and improve their business, as their Melbourne counterparts.

“I invite the Minister for Small Business, Philip Dalidakis, to venture out of the comfort of his Melbourne office and explain to local business holders why they are not important enough to have a local event as part of the Small Business Festival or Small Business Workshop program,” she said.