As NSW celebrates Small Business Month, it has simultaneously and ironically axed its flagship Business Connect program, a move that small business advocates are calling “short-sighted” and “terrible timing.”
The program, which an independent review in 2021 found delivered $1.50 in benefits for every $1 spent, supported tens of thousands of small businesses across the state. Its closure comes amid rising insolvencies, mounting costs and ATO debt recovery pressures.
“It’s a terrible shame the NSW government is closing a service which was providing a positive return on its investment through supporting the success of SMEs,” said James Beeson, CEO of Earlypay.
“The timing of the shutdown is really unfortunate given soft economic demand and high business costs.”
While NSW businesses can still access limited help through Service NSW’s Business Bureau, other states continue to back their small business sectors with strong, free programs.
Victoria’s Small Business Bus takes expert advice on the road; Queensland’s Mentoring for Growth connects entrepreneurs with volunteer mentors; and Western Australia’s SBDC continues to offer confidential advisory services. Meanwhile, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory all maintain free or subsidised programs for small enterprises.
Beeson stressed that Australia’s 2.5 million SMEs are the nation’s largest employers and deserve stronger support. “If they’re doing well, then the economy will follow,” he said.
