7. H V ROSS ROBERTSON (Labour—Manukau East) Link to this
to the Minister for Small Business
What is the Government doing to help small to medium sized enterprises in New Zealand?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister for Small Business) Link to this
Today I am releasing the Government’s response to the second report of the Small Business Advisory Group. The response shows that the advisory group and the Government share a vision on how to improve the business environment for small to medium sized businesses. The Quality Regulation Review, which I announced in May this year, will also produce results around several of the recommendations, including improving the quality of regulatory impact statements. The Government is also committed to a 2-year trial of the business cost calculator, which will identify explicitly the administrative costs of proposed regulation and any alternatives.
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
What other aspects of the Small Business Advisory Group report has the Government responded to favourably?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL Link to this
Ten of the 12 recommendations have received a positive response from the Government, although with both exceptions the Government is looking at whether there are other ways of reducing compliance costs, such as the addition of an online holiday calculator to the Department of Labour website. The Accident Compensation Corporation and the Inland Revenue Department have already announced changes in the way they deal with minor misdemeanours and unintentional mistakes. Improved processes for hazardous substances and new organisms controls came into operation in July this year.
Dr Pita SharplesTēnā koe, Madam Speaker, tēnā tātou katoa. Has the Minister had reports on the potential for the creation and support of businesses in the East Coast area—that is, the area from Kaiti in the south to Potaka in the north; if not, why not?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL Link to this
Unfortunately, that was not included as one of the recommendations from the Small Business Advisory Group, although I will say to the member that one of the issues it did raise was the question of champions within individual Government departments. Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs were two departments where the group was concerned that there was proper information being given on the development and promotion of small business.