Western Australian Current Acts Western Australian Current Acts (1) Subject to the
general direction and control of the Minister the Corporation shall administer
this Act.
(2) The Corporation
has the following functions —
(a) to
take such steps and do such acts and things as are necessary for the promotion
and development of small business and to provide assistance for the
establishment, development and carrying on of small business throughout the
State;
(b) of
its own motion, to make representations, to tender advice and make reports to
the Minister on any matter or thing relating to, or affecting small business
or the operation of this Act;
(c) at
the request of the Minister to investigate any matter affecting small business
referred to it by the Minister and to report to the Minister thereon;
(d) to
establish and maintain liaison between associations or groups of people
representing or servicing small business and the Government of the State;
(e) to
provide financial assistance, grants and operational funding under
section 11AA;
(fa) to
investigate, and report to the Minister on, the impact on small business of
legislation and government policy of this jurisdiction, the Commonwealth or
any other State or Territory;
(fb) to
investigate, and report to the Minister on, the actions of public sector
bodies that affect the commercial activities of small businesses;
(fc) to
assist public sector bodies —
(i)
to develop legislation, policies and administrative
procedures that take into account the interests of small business; and
(ii)
to improve the capacity of small business to comply with
legislative and other requirements; and
(iii)
to simplify and minimise small business compliance
requirements;
(fd) to
facilitate and encourage the fair treatment of small businesses in their
commercial dealings with other businesses in the marketplace;
(fe) to
investigate, and report to the Minister on, emerging trends in market practice
that have an adverse effect on small business;
(f) to
provide to any person, association or group of people an advisory and
administrative service for, or in connection with the establishment, carrying
on, expansion and development of any small business;
(g) to
arrange and co-ordinate training, educational and skill development programmes
for small business;
(ha) to
promote informed decision making by small businesses;
(hb) to
assist small businesses to operate in ways that minimise disputes with other
businesses;
(h) to
establish and maintain an information centre containing a comprehensive
selection of literature, manuals, brochures, audio visual material, technical
data, business profiles and the like;
(i)
to carry out research and to publish and distribute
information, technical data and the like for the guidance of small business;
(j) to
engage the services of suitable consultants where appropriate to provide
surveys, technical data, statistics, professional opinions or other
information for the purposes of this Act;
(k) to
counsel small business on the availability of finance and the means of
obtaining financial assistance;
[(l), (m) deleted]
(n) to
promote public awareness of the importance of matters relating to the
activities of small business and to inform the public concerning the value of
sound business practice.
(3) The Corporation
has power to do all things necessary or convenient for or in connection with
the performance of its functions and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, may —
(a)
raise fees or charges with respect to the provision of services or the
performance of any work by, or on behalf of, the Corporation; and
(b) own,
lease, rent or otherwise acquire suitable premises or accommodation for its
staff, records and facilities; and
(c)
enter into contracts or other arrangements.
[(4) deleted]
[Section 11 amended: No. 20 of 2011 s. 14; No. 4
of 2022 s. 5.]