HACCI chair Fotini Kypraios told a meeting between multicultural community business leaders and the Australian Small Businesses and Family Enterprises Ombudsman last week that there was need for consultation with community organisations at the forefront of business when formulating policies that will affect them.
Speaking at the meeting with Ombudsman Bruce Billson and community business leaders that was arranged by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), and leaders of a number of community business organisations, Ms Kypraios also called for active community consultation with Chambers of Commerce and established community organisations to allow for the more effective dissemination of information on policy and services.
Ms Kypraios told the meeting that the imposition of policy and regulations, however well meaning, had not taken into account the cost to business owners of implementing and ensuring compliance of the regulations. She said that COVID-19 protocols were an example of rules that had been imposed without considering the pressures they placed on small businesses.
Also at the meeting were the VMC Chairperson, Viv Nguyen, who arranged the meeting, VMC Deputy Chair, Bwe Thay, VMC Commissioners Hakan Akyol PSM and Celia Tran, as well as Melbourne Dai Loong Association’s President Eng Lim, Chinatown Precinct Association Inc President Uncle Danny Doon, and Faddy Zouki OAM from the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, who participated online.
As well as the pressures and challenges faced by small-to-medium businesses, participants also spoke on matters relating to access of information and resources, succession planning and the need for further support.
There were also suggestions that the Ombudsman should advocate for a tax-reduction strategy for property owners who had provided rent-relief to tenants during the pandemic. Businesses were in a post-COVID recovery mode as they dealt with a backlog of financial difficulties including the repayment of deferred rent which has been particularly apparent in the Melbourne CBD where business continued to be slow.
Participants suggested that staff shortages, another urgent matter facing businesses, could be solved by changes to visa requirements that would allow more flexibility for international students to combine their studies and work.
Meeting participants also discussed the setting up of a business advisory committee that would consult with policymakers to improve understanding on the impact of government policies on business.