- Owners of tradie utes, vans and mobile vehicles can apply for funding to protect their livelihoods under the latest round of the Crisafulli Government’s Secure Communities Partnership Program.
- The Crisafulli Government is restoring safety where you live and boosting security for Queensland small and family businesses, with grants of up to $20,000 available for practical security improvements for both mobile and fixed-premise small businesses.
- The latest round also includes grants of up to $200,000 for larger security projects that help protect groups of small and family businesses operating in neighbourhood shopping strips, industrial estates and local business precincts.
- The Crisafulli Government is bolstering security and support for small and family businesses to prevent crime after a decade of the former Labor Government’s weak laws created the crime crisis.
The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer by delivering vital security support for small and family businesses, with up to $20 million available through the latest round of the Secure Communities Partnership Program.
For the first time, Queensland tradies and other mobile small businesses will be able to access funding to improve the security of work vehicles, trailers, tools and business equipment, expanding the program to support a broader range of small and family businesses.
It is part of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to restore safety where you live following a decade of decline under the former Labor Government, which failed to deliver the tools small and family businesses needed to protect their livelihoods.
The Crisafulli Government is standing with small and family businesses who are under siege from the Federal Labor Government with interest rate rises, rising fuel costs, credit card surcharging costs and changes to the taxation of discretionary trusts.
Businesses operating from commercial premises across Queensland can also access funding for practical security improvements such as alarms, surveillance systems, security lighting and access controls to help prevent crime before it happens.
The Small Business Security Grants provide funding from $1,500 to $20,000 for mobile business projects and $2,500 to $20,000 for fixed-premises projects.
Authorised property owners and lessors can also apply under the new round, allowing security improvements that directly benefit eligible small business tenants.
This round also introduces new Shared Security Grants, providing competitive funding of between $20,000 and $200,000 for larger security projects that help protect groups of small and family businesses located within neighbourhood shopping strips, industrial estates and local business precincts.
In this round the Crisafulli Government has continued to listen to small and family businesses and lowered the minimum project values which will make it easier to invest in practical security upgrades.
Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the funding was helping small business owners take practical steps to safeguard their operations, and make Queensland safer.
“We are delivering targeted support for small and family businesses as the theft of tools, equipment or stock can bring significant financial pressure,” Minister Minnikin said.
“These grants will help small business owners invest in practical security measures that better protect their businesses and livelihoods, which the former Labor Government failed to do.
“Whether it’s a small trade complex, warehouse precinct, neighbourhood shopping strip or other multi-tenancy commercial site, these grants will support security upgrades that benefit entire business communities and the small businesses that operate within them.”
Member for Southport Rob Molhoek said the investment in tradies was vital to the security for those delivering the infrastructure Queensland needs to grow and thrive.
“Opening up security grants for a range of different businesses is delivering practical security upgrades to help deter criminal activity,” Mr Molhoek said.
“We’re also investing in support for small and family businesses whether that’s your local neighborhood shopping strips, industrial estates or local business precincts.”
Master Builders Queensland’s Gold Coast Regional Manager Adam Profke said the theft of tools and equipment could significantly impact job timeframes and costs.
“We welcome the focus on tackling crime prevention for small businesses and giving tradies the support they need to increase their security,” Mr Profke said.
“These grants will help small businesses invest in practical security measures that better protect their businesses and livelihoods.”
