Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Ministers statements: Victorian Regional Chamber Alliance

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:04): I rise to update the house on the work our government is doing supporting business chambers and local traders groups. Last Wednesday it was a delight to join regional chambers and traders groups from right across the state in Ballarat to launch the Victorian Regional Chamber Alliance. The alliance will provide a collective voice for regional chambers of commerce and business associations. I would like to pay particular credit to my friend Jodie Gillett, the CEO of Commerce Ballarat, for whom this has been a real passion project, an idea that has taken root as a result of the importance of networking and sharing of ideas through the pandemic and that shows such exciting potential and opportunity as we drive an economic recovery that is experienced and enjoyed by people right across the state. I was joined at the launch by my colleagues in the other place the member for Buninyong and the member for Wendouree, who are both terrific advocates for regional businesses.

I want to acknowledge the critical role played by local traders organisations, including those in Melbourne’s suburbs and CBD, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Right across the state these groups have provided crucial information to their members on restrictions, vaccine requirements and government support. They have also assisted businesses to adapt their operations to survive, and indeed for some to thrive, in the face of the unprecedented challenges they have been experiencing. Without them, many businesses would not have made it through, and it is so important that we continue to back these groups, these mainstays of our local communities, as we come out the other side of what has been a very challenging time. It is why we created the $5 million business chamber and local traders program last year. I am very pleased to advise that a second round of the program is now open, with grants available to associations for activities and programs that support locally led initiatives that educate, inform and empower small businesses.