Toowoomba Regional Council becomes second local government to join new small business charter after heated committee debate

The Toowoomba Regional Council has become one of the first local governments in Queensland to sign a new small business-friendly charter, following a heated debate.

TRC Mayor Paul Antonio. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio says the council’s decision to sign a new small business charter will make the organisation even friendlier to smaller operators.

Councillors voted last week to join the Small Business Friendly Council Charter, which was developed by the newly-formed Queensland Small Business Commission.

But the matter wasn’t without heated debate, with three councillors voting against the motion following a 45-minute discussion period.

The TRC is the second council after Ipswich to join the charter, which gets local governments to commit to promoting “small business success” through better communication with operators, simplifying regulatory processes and supporting special programs.

“Last year we met with the Queensland Small Business Commission to discuss the charter which places an emphasis on being there for our local small business community,” Cr Antonio said.

“The SBFC initiative has been established to recognise and support local councils in Queensland that are actively supporting small businesses in their area and helping small businesses to recover and build resilience following disasters and economic challenges.

“This charter details the range of commitments that Councils are expected to meet in becoming a SBFC and measures how effective we are in meeting or exceeding the commitments of the charter.

“The intent of this group is for councils to work together by sharing information so that other councils may develop improved processes to support local businesses further.”

Cr Carol Taylor voted against the proposal, saying it was locking the TRC into commitments that weren’t costed.

“If we sign this agreement, it’s not about aspiring to do things — this says ‘we will’,” she said.

“Some of it we already do, but some of it we don’t, and I don’t know where it sits for our whole community.”

Cr Rebecca Vonhoff also opposed signing the charter on the basis that it was asking the council to overlook against larger operations in favour of small businesses.

“We as a council are supportive of business, and looking at this charter, it would force us to show preferential treatment to small business,” she said.

“It is not fully costed, and these are secondary arguments, but it’s not our money, it’s ratepayers’ money and they expect us to be prudent with that money.”

Cr Bill Cahill also voted against it.