One time Guyra resident, businesswoman and now Labor Shadow Minister for Small Business Jenny Aitchison visited some towns in the region on Thursday with Labor candidate Debra O'Brien, and both were saddened by the number of businesses being lost to the drought.
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"We went to have a meeting with businesses in Inverell. That wasn't well attended at all, but we did go around and have a talk to people in the streets and to local business owners in their businesses," Mrs Aitchison said.
Thirteen businesses closed recently in Inverell and another two probably, eight recently closed in Guyra; we're seeing some real issues here.
- Jenny Aitchison
"And I noticed from when I was in Walcha, if you had to go into Armidale it was a full day. You didn't know anyone in Armidale, so you didn't have a cup of coffee and get that support."
She said the small businesses drove that kind of support for individuals, and was concerned the long-term effects of drought were being underestimated by government.
"The Small Business Commissioner should be up here as well as the Local Land Services. It shouldn't just be focused on the farming community, although that is really important, it's where they're actually purchasing things from that are really struggling," Mrs Aitchison said.
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"Then things like the fire at Tingha have another social impact."
Mrs Aitchison said she spoke with Jenny Thomas from Freckles at Inverell and was delighted to find she had an amazing women's support group.
"If there is an infrastructure program there then that is great, but to me it's actually getting on the ground and mentoring with those small businesses," she said.
"Jenny has an amazing small business group that she's working with, and that's what I've found around the State, that small business is predominately started by women, and they actually have great connections.
"But how are they getting access to things. They're not necessarily in a state where they can join the business chamber, and because they're not doing that they're not necessarily getting access to government programs like Small Biz Connect."
She said the the upshot of it all was that small business in the regions was doing it tough.
Debra O'Brien said she thought Jenny Thomas's business networking group at Inverell was brilliant.
"It works really well to keep each other's spirits up to give each other tips and mentoring, to support each other through the bad times, and I think women women are very good at this sort of thing," she said.
"I think this is great, but how do we establish this so all small businesses have support and there is a way for them to know where they can get that help and support?
"And one of the things that going to help is local procurement. You prioritise the local area instead of bringing it in from Coffs Harbour or somewhere else. That, I think will help because you're spending money in the town, you know, they don't take it out."
