NSW Minister for Small Business Katrina Hodgkinson has appointed Yasmin King, renowned business consultant and negotiator, as the state’s first Small Business Commissioner.
A former associate commissioner for the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC), King’s role will be to stand up for the rights of the 650,000 small businesses in NSW.
The appointment is the fulfilment of a pre-election promise by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell to give greater support for small business, and provide a representative to fight for their rights in Government.
“The Small Business Commissioner will restore confidence within the NSW business community by protecting their rights and providing a simple, low-cost dispute-resolution system that will cut through the red tape that small businesses have been caught up in for the past 16 years,” Hodgkinson said:
King has a strong background in advocating for the interests of small business. Small businesses can bring complaints to King, who will monitor and report directly to Hodgkinson on issues of unfair market practice and Government regulation of small business.
“King will ensure small businesses can easily access mediation and advocacy services, reducing the need for expensive litigation,” Hodgkinson said.
With small business making up 95 percent of business entities in the State and with 1.8 million people employed in the sector, Hodgkinson assured “The NSW Government is committed to supporting small business growth and we will ensure that happens in the fairest, most equitable business environment”.