The man tipped to become the new small business minister has officially been handed the portfolio – Bruce Billson, member for Dunkley will take the reigns all the way to cabinet.
In the yet to be sworn in 44th parliament, the small business minister will for the first time be included in the inner cabinet. Previous ministries from both sides of government have attached small business to other portfolios.
The coalition’s policy for small business can be viewed here.
Billson has been the small business spokesman for the coalition since December 2009, and so far his appointment has been welcomed by a number of business groups.
Peter Strong, executive director of the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA), said he looks forward to working with a government that has a powerful mandate to focus on the small business people in Australia.
“We especially look forward to getting rid of unnecessary red tape, confronting the issues of bullying by the big landlords and the unfair domination by the Coles-Woolworths duopoly,” Strong said in a statement.
“Billson has been a shining light for small business people and we know we can work together to have healthy small businesses and healthy small business people,” he added.
Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) chief executive Peter Anderson said the inclusion of small business in cabinet is an encouraging first step.
“Small business people welcome the appointment of incoming Small Business Minister Bruce Billson, who has been a tireless advocate for small business and a strong supporter of ACCI’s ‘Small Business: Too Big To Ignore campaign’,” Anderson said.
Related story: New government – what now for small business?
