Small business is the engine room of our economy and only a majority Gutwein Liberal Government has a clear plan to provide the support and initiatives to them to secure Tasmania’s future.

I am pleased to announce that if re-elected, we will provide more than $20 million to support small businesses across the state.

We will build on our 39,000 strong small businesses and release a refreshed Small Business Growth Strategy 2022-26, which will be informed by the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tasmanian Small Business Council.

“We will boost Business Tasmania resources so it can quickly deliver information and support to more small businesses when they need help, and establish a new $2 million Small Business Incubator and Accelerator Pilot Program to encourage entrepreneurs to grow their small business ventures,” Premier Gutwein said.

“We will also provide up to $75,000 per year to continue the No Interest Micro Business Loan Program run by the No Interest Loans Scheme.”

A majority Gutwein Liberal Government would also activate more land for development of privately-owned vacant residential zoned land right across Tasmania, to ensure small business continued to have strong supply chain participation.

“We will double the Building Projects Support Program with an additional $10 million to get stalled projects off the ground, bringing forward more shovel-ready projects and further underpinning Tasmania’s building and construction sector to create more local jobs,” Premier Gutwein said.

“We would also provide an additional $5 million to lower headworks costs for new subdivisions on top of the $10 million committed by our Government.”

Minister for Small Business Sarah Courtney said a majority Gutwein Liberal Government would continue support for small business to access financial cancelling and advice.

“We would deliver a $1.2 million Small Business Financial Counselling and Advice Support Program, to assist small businesses to access professional business advice from the private sector,” Minister Courtney said.

“To support small business owners to manage their mental health and well-being, we will also be extending our Small Business Mental Health Support Package so that a Tasmanian Lifeline can continue to work with small business around the state.”

Funding of $300,000 will be provided over three years for Regional Chambers of Commerce to support their small business members, and promote collaboration and business development in their regions. While $50,000 per year over three years will be committed to the Tasmanian Small Business Council to support its members.

To help small business access the skilled workforce it needs, we will invest $98.5 million into TasTAFE over the next four years, and provide $13.8 million through our Jobs Tasmania – Local Jobs for Local People initiatives.

Tasmania’s small businesses employ over 100,000 people.

Only a re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government has the clear plan to secure their future.

The full policy is available here.