Burdekin Businesses Call For More Support As Small Business Month Returns

Small businesses across the Burdekin Shire are set to benefit from a statewide push to strengthen regional economies with the return of Queensland Small Business Month this May.

Just last week, several Event Delivery Grants were awarded to Chambers of Commerce, industry groups and councils across 28 shires, aimed at helping small and family businesses build resilience and embrace new opportunities. While no funding was allocated locally, Burdekin Chamber Secretary Kari Ravizza said it was encouraging to see the government prioritising small businesses in regional and remote communities.

“Initiatives like Queensland Small Business Month are extremely important in regional areas like ours, especially as they help to bridge the gap between regions and cities, and bring skills, resources and expertise into regions that don’t normally have easy access,” she said.

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Dale Last MP, Member for Burdekin, said the initiative plays a vital role across the state, particularly in regional communities.

“Queensland Small Business Month is an opportunity to remind Queenslanders of the importance of small business and to thank the people who, quite often, put everything on the line to provide services and employ locals,” he said.

Mrs Ravizza said local businesses continue to face a unique set of challenges, including rising freight and logistics costs, increasing insurance premiums, workforce shortages and ongoing skills gaps in areas like digital marketing.

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“In regions like the Burdekin, there’s also a heavy reliance on agricultural cycles — when farmers are doing it tough, flow-on effects are felt right across the local business community,” she said.

Mr Last said reducing barriers for small business remained a key focus for the government, highlighting the establishment of the Small and Family Business Ministerial Reference Group, which brings together representatives from a range of industries and regions across Queensland to directly inform policy and provide advice to the Minister.

“Having run a small business myself, I know that one of the biggest obstacles is red tape, and that’s why I am proud to be part of a government that is actively reducing unnecessary barriers for small businesses.”

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He said the government was also supporting small businesses through initiatives targeting cybercrime, grants to improve safety, and measures to make it easier to employ apprentices, alongside tailored training and increased opportunities to secure government work throughout the year.

Mrs Ravizza added that while initiatives like Queensland Small Business Month are valuable, there is a need for more targeted, practical support.

“More funding for local workshops, digital tools, staff training, as well as support around freight and insurance, would make a real difference for small businesses in our region,” she said.

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Queensland Small Business Month is a dedicated, state-wide initiative held annually to celebrate, support and connect more than 508,000 small and family-owned businesses across the state.

CAPTION: Burdekin businesses are calling for greater support, highlighting rising costs and skill gaps as major challenges amid statewide push. Photo credit: Jacob Casha