The Liberal Party’s Kiama candidate Serena Copley is urging voters to hold the Chris Minns Labor government to account in the upcoming by-election for the demise of the Business Connect program and rising insolvency liquidations.

Shadow Minister for Small Business Tim James joined Copley on the campaign trail by visiting Albert Street Caffé and Bar in Berry during the week.

They highlighted the axing of Business Connect and said the rising insolvency liquidations were due to decisions from the Minns government.

“There are 870,000 small businesses across NSW. That works out to be around 9,000 per electorate,” he said.

“Under Labor, costs are up, insolvencies are up, and support has been cut.

“The government’s decision to axe the Business Connect program is the final insult.”

The government announced late last month that the Business Connect program, previously Small Biz Connect, would close on 30 September.

James highlighted the benefits of the program, which was implemented under the Gladys Berejiklian-led Liberal government.

“Business Connect provided free, practical advice to small business navigating compliance, planning and financial management,” he said.

“It was one of the few lifelines available, and from 1 October it will be gone, with nothing to replace it. 

“The NSW Labor Government has abandoned small business.”

Copley is advocating strongly for small businesses, especially in the Kiama region condemning the decision from the Minns government. 

“Instead of helping the struggling local businesses, Labor has taken an important service away,” Copley said.

“Small businesses are the backbone of communities like ours.

“Kiama small businesses employ locals, sponsor local community organisations and sports teams and create future opportunities for our kids and grandkids.”

With cost-of-living pressures exponentially on the rise, James said businesses were shutting their doors at an alarming rate. 

“Last year there were almost 8000 insolvencies in the 2024-25 financial year according to ASIC,” James said. 

“That was a 26% increase on the previous year.

“It’s just heartbreaking at a local community level to see people that you know who have backed themselves and worked hard, worked long hours to make their business work, and it just gets harder and harder until they call it quits.

“That’s devastating because that has a flow-on effect for our community.”

Following the decision to axe Business Connect, the government released a statement to say it was delivering on its commitment to support local jobs and businesses across the state.

In the 2023-24 financial year, the Minns government increased spending on small and medium businesses from $8.7 billion in 2021-22 to $10.1 billion in 2023-24.

This is almost a quarter of the government’s $42 billion spend on goods, services, and construction.