29/4/04
Small Business Minister Bob Kucera today welcomed figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, showing Western Australia’s rate of small business growth to be second only to Victoria.
Mr Kucera said at 2.8 per cent, WA’s growth was well above the national annual average of 0.7 per cent.
“This is a great result for our State and demonstrates the success of the Gallop Government’s policies in fostering and supporting small business,” the Minister said.
“This success is even more significant when considering that the reporting period included international economic and political instability, the SARS outbreak and the collapse of Ansett airlines.
“Another challenge throughout this period was the flow-on effects of widespread drought, particularly in regional WA.”
Mr Kucera said the State Government, through the Small Business Development Corporation, had developed programs to support home-based small businesses, which made up 72 per cent of all small businesses in WA.
“It is encouraging to see that WA led the growth in this area, with 6.8 per cent - streets ahead of the national average of 0.4 per cent,” he said.
“Local small business operators have also demonstrated their commitment to embracing technology, with 62 per cent having access to the internet.
“That represents an annual average increase of 11 per cent, which is above the national average of nine per cent.
“Once again, the State Government has been proactive in encouraging small business operators to adopt e-commerce into all aspects of their business, from marketing to banking, ordering and exporting.
“These statistics demonstrate the State’s positive small business environment and the excellent work of the SBDC, in conjunction with the State-wide Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) network.”
Minister's office: 9213 7000
