Adjournment: Small Business Environmental Initiatives

The matter I wish to raise is for the attention of the Minister for Innovation and Small Business. The action I seek is for the minister to investigate with her department opportunities for small businesses in my electorate to engage programs designed to reduce both the costs and environmental impacts of doing business. While small business undoubtedly wants to do more to help the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin. There is no question that the best place to start is to look at innovation and sustainability that also positively impacts on the bottom line. 

I know that just keeping a business afloat can be a difficult and worrying task, and I congratulate those many entrepreneurs who go the extra mile and do what they can to reduce their environmental impact. 

Being able to contribute to our long-term environmental future while also strengthening our vital small business sector is an important and noble goal.

While many small businesses may not know it is possible to cut emissions costs at the same time, it is here that government can play a strong role in providing education on how these businesses can act. I am aware that there are some programs supported by the government that have provided training and mentoring, and I can see the great work that has been

done in the past. I am also aware that VECCI (Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry) has been involved in running workshops that can help businesses improve their sustainability and bottom line.

While this may not be the only solution, I would be keen for the department to look at trialling programs to work with local councils to assist small businesses. I would also be happy to offer both of my local councils, the City of Port Phillip and the City of Glen Eira, to conduct potential trial programs.

There are a number of examples including cafes, printers and retailers that have made small but effective changes which benefit both the planet and their profits. The bustling shopping strips of Elsternwick, East St Kilda, Caulfield and others in my electorate contain many great small businesses that could be engaged with these programs.

The issue of business engagement with the aim of improving the environment is one that highlights the fundamental and philosophical differences between the coalition and the Labor Party, specifically the federal Labor government. While programs such as those that I have discussed encourage innovation and provide businesses with incentives to go green, the federal government's great big new tax on everything is a job-killing, top-down, bureaucratic money churn that the Prime Minister promised she would never introduce.

Improving the environment is a goal that all Victorians, including all Victorian small businesses, share; however, these uncertain economic times make it difficult for businesses that do not know where to start. I ask the minister to investigate with her department the potential to trial such programs to assist both small businesses and the environment.

Response from the Minister for Small Business, the Hon Louise Asher MP

The member for Caulfield raised with me a very important issue about government assistance for small business in relation to cutting costs for electricity use and other environmental matters. As members of this chamber would be aware, the member for Caulfield has a very strong record in small business and entrepreneurship; therefore it comes as no surprise that he would ask a practical question such as this in terms of what the government is actually doing.

The adjournment debate is not the time when I wish to take up the observation from the honourable member for Caulfield in relation to the carbon tax, which is that this is not the time for the federal government to be imposing an additional tax.

However, given that this would appear to be the actuality, my department will try to assist small businesses in whatever way it can to reduce their electricity usage, bearing in mind that for many businesses it is non-discretionary. The Australian Industry Group has also raised this as a key issue, and the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry has in the past been involved in programs to encourage businesses to reduce their electricity use not only to be environmentally sensitive but also, importantly, to cut their costs.

Small Business Victoria is delivering regular 2-hour seminars, and the name of these seminars is Green your Business, Grow your Business. They are usually hosted by local councils. They concentrate on reduction of energy use, energy efficiency, waste reduction and a whole range of matters in this domain, all of which should assist businesses to cut costs and to be environmentally friendly. There are three accredited facilitators who have taken on this task, and the member for Caulfield asked me whether there is anything available in his area. I can indicate that 10 seminars have been conducted so far, and 4 are scheduled for next three months, including seminars at the Nillumbik, Hobson’s Bay, Baw Baw and Campaspe municipalities.

I am delighted to inform the member for Caulfield that I will arrange for seminars to be held, should his local government authorities agree, in the cities of Port Phillip and Glen Eira.