Small Business Minister Brendan O'Connor met Port Douglas and Daintree small business operators today at a specially convened meeting hosted by Gordon Wellham, chair of Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree.

"This meeting was another opportunity to make sure I am fully informed of the challenges facing Australia's small business sector around the nation," Mr O'Connor said.

"With over 21,000 operators from Cairns to Cape York, small business is an important local driver of economic activity and employment.

"The Government understands that small businesses, particularly those in the tourism industry, have taken a beating as a result of the high Aussie dollar.

"That's why we are working with individual businesses to help them innovate and remain competitive through the Enterprise Connect program.

"We've based two business advisers in Cairns with a further adviser attached to the Remote Enterprise Centre working in the region.

"Together, Enterprise Connect has conducted 367 business reviews and provided 178 tailored advisory service grants to small and medium enterprises in regional North Queensland. Of these, 50 business reviews and 27 tailored advisory services grants were provided to tourism businesses.

"In addition, the Small Business Advisory Service program provided by Advance Cairns BEC has assisted 251 businesses with 427 services to the region."

Small business owners can also get advice from the Small Business Support Line (SBSL) on 1800 77 7275.

Since September 2009, the SBSL has received 476 calls from the Leichhardt electorate in North Queensland, many of which were referred to the Advanced Cairns BEC. The top three enquiries are about Federal Government grants and assistance, registering a business or company and advice and support, such as starting a business and business planning.  

Mr O'Connor visited Seabean Café, one of the Port Douglas businesses assisted by Advance Cairns BEC.

"Advance Cairns BEC was able to help Seabean Café's new owners to refine their business plan and access finance to develop the Wharf Street restaurant," Mr O'Connor said.

Mr O'Connor congratulated Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree on its collaborative approach to build the area's tourism industry which has been dealing with the challenges of the high Australian dollar as well as natural events like flooding and Cyclone Yasi.

"The Gillard Government recognised the special needs of areas hit by natural disasters with $2.5 million in additional Small Business Advisory Service funding targeting these areas," Mr O'Connor said.

"The success of the Small Business Advisory Service was recognised in the recent Federal Budget, with $27.5 million to extend the highly successful program for a further four years to continue supporting small businesses with vital advice and assistance.

"We are also appointing an Australian Small Business Commissioner to develop a new approach to providing advocacy, advice and representation of small business interests to the Government.

"The Commissioner will ensure the needs of small business are taken into account when new policies and programs are being developed across the Government."

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