Industry representative groups have given qualified approval after a Federal Government move to establish a national small business consultative body.
The Small Business Council will advise the government on a broad range of issues affecting the sector.
In a study released last month, the New South Wales Chamber of Commerce found many small enterprises were spending 400-hours a year filling out paperwork for government departments.
The chamber's chief executive officer, Margy Osmond, is concerned that membership of the new consultative council is limited to just 12 individual business operators. "Obviously any step towards greater consultation with government is a good one," she said. "But I am concerned that this seems to be a very narrow group.
"What we need is a much wider consultation mechanism and a real time table for some change."
Source: ABC News Online
