The Queensland Law Society welcomes the State Government’s commitment to red tape reforms with more than 85 per cent of law practices in the state operating as sole or micro businesses.
QLS provided feedback to the Queensland Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb earlier this month and will raise issues with the Minister for Small and Family Business this month.
In the Society submission, it notes Queensland law firms comprise and/or provide legal services to small to medium-sized businesses and community members across the state.
“Their impacts in regional and remote communities are particularly critical in the context of delivering legally aided advice and services,” the submission states.
“In recommending red tape reform for small and family businesses, we note over 85 per cent of law practices in Queensland are sole or micro firms, that is, those with five or less practising solicitors.”
The QLS Call to Parties document sets out initiatives which aim to reduce regulatory burden for law practices and promote access to justice.
QLS also recommends consideration be given to how the State Government can support Queensland businesses implement the Federal Government‘s anti-money laundering (AML) compliance framework, for example with training and grants.
“Critically, there is no carve out for small businesses and AML will apply to designated services irrespective of their size,” the submission stated.
“The impacts for regulated businesses, services, customers and clients will be acute and the State Government will have a role to play in ensuring small businesses are supported to understand their compliance obligations.”
As the Queensland court system focuses on digitisation in 2025, QLS views that dispute resolution management for small businesses could be “significantly enhanced by an ongoing commitment to digitisation of Queensland Court and Tribunal registries and processes to streamline filing, case management, case hearings, and reduce overall costs of participation in judicial/tribunal processes”.
“Queensland courts and tribunals lag behind most other jurisdictions and the current ‘in person’ requirements are a form of red tape which impact on small businesses (both lawyers and clients)
in relation to the delivery of, and access to, justice,” the submission noted.
“Electronic filing and electronic hearing capability is particularly important for small businesses where disputes do not, for example, include pre court options for resolution. It is arguably even more difficult for those in the regions, where travel distance to courts is a further cost and time factor.
“Barriers to attending registries and courthouses in person have been front of mind for many Queenslanders who are continuing to manage the effects of recent weather events. Digitisation is an important factor in supporting business resilience and recovery.”
Supporting Queensland businesses to innovate with technology is a recent government initiative, Business Boost Grants, which QLS supports.
QLS members have suggested several ways to reduce red tape which were included in the feedback to the Small Business Commissioner, such as reviewing the requirement to register transactions until duty has been paid; licensing and permit rationalisation; simplify government procurement requirements; and tax reform.
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