This was the message delivered to Federal Member for Mallee, Andrew Broad, during a business breakfast meeting.

Mr Broad said he understood that small business owners were being forced to complete far too much paperwork under state government guidelines and that the workload was increasing, when in fact it was supposed to be decreasing.

Chris Anderson, who owns and operates Chris N Di’s Bakery in Stawell, said it was getting to the stage where businesses were employing people they can’t afford, just to ensure that all the necessary paperwork was being completed and submitted.

“Where there is supposed to be getting less and less bureaucracy, there seems to be getting more and more paperwork,” he said.

“Small businesses who might only be employing 10 people or less, are being set up like they’re a big business employing hundreds of people and need to follow the same system.

“It really is just an added burden on businesses. And accountability has has become so bad, that nobody will make a decision. people just aren’t willing to make a decision even in the department they should be able to.”

Chris Waack, owner of Waack’s Bakery, said it was preventing business operators from doing what they do best, employ local people and grow their business.

“The government has to put more emphasis on getting business owners to enjoy their business more,” he said.

“These extra burdens aren’t allowing us to do that.”

Mr Waack said there needed to be a system where things can be fast-tracked a bit so businesses can succeed.

“It’s not about cutting corners, but if the government can somehow put a flow system in place, it will just make it a little easier for businesses and also council.”

Northern Grampians Shire Mayor, Cr Murray Emerson, agreed that red tape was holding business and the council back.

“Red tape really is killing local government,” Cr Emerson said.

“We see it in our own planning department and every department we have, red tape interferes with us going forward. The state has run some programs to try and reduce red tape, but it just doesn’t seem to work. Every time the state and sometimes the federal government send us out some directions, it’s surrounded by red tape.”

Mr Broad said he would write to councils in his electorate asking what the inhibitors are in relation to red tape and would take that up with the appropriate state Ministers.