Tasmanian Small Business Council

17/05/2026

A great addition allowing everyone to perform at an iconic venue. Well done.

Do it once. Do it right. Thank you, City of Launceston Official

We’re incredibly pleased Council has listened to the performing arts community and approved the inclusion of the hydraulic orchestra pit/stage lift as part of the Princess Theatre redevelopment.

This was never about luxury. It was about dignity, accessibility, safety and future-proofing one of Tasmania’s most important cultural venues.

For too long (55 years to be precise), performers with mobility challenges have faced barriers accessing the orchestra pit. No musician should ever again have to be physically carried into their performance space because a venue failed to provide equal access.

The new hydraulic lift will modernise the theatre, improve safety, reduce costly manual labour, and create a more inclusive and multi-functional venue for performers, schools, dance companies and touring productions alike.

Thank you to everyone who advocated so strongly and understood that accessibility must include performers as well as audiences.

Elie Roe-Daniel, Studio Manager, KRSD Performing Arts- Kim Roe School of Dance
Melissa Wimmer, Principal, Melissa Wimmer's School of Theatrical Dance
Belinda King, President, Encore Theatre Company
The Board, Australian Musical Theatre Festival
Andy Prideaux & Matt Gower, Encore Theatre Academy

17/04/2026

Great to see these young and enthusiastic entrepreneurs giving it a red hot go. Congratulations.

13/04/2026

12/04/2026

Chilly morning doing the rounds of the 4x4 Expo at the DEC. great to see a lot of small business doing their best in our autumnal weather. Roseanne Mallett@willturvey Coventry Mechanical

10/04/2026

The 2026 Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards celebrate the people, operators and teams who drive our city’s small business community.

01/04/2026

Credit Card Surcharge Savings are all Smoke and Mirrors

‘The recent decision by the RBA to outlaw credit card charge surcharges in its current form from October 1st is all smoke and mirrors when it comes to the final price a customer will pay for their goods,’ said Robert Mallett, CEO of the TSBC.

‘In reality what will happen is that the credit card surcharges will again be built into the price, like they always used to be, and customers irrespective of whether they will be paying by credit card or cash, will pay more.

‘Assertions by the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and the RBA that consumers will save $1.8 billion are completely unfounded. The customer will more than likely be paying more than that, but the charge will be totally opaque.

‘As there will be no control over how much the price can go up, post October 1st, it is highly likely that the increase in prices to consumers will exceed the real cost of the credit card surcharge. This will be for simplicity, clarity, ease of selling and will in most cases exceed the one or two percent currently being paid by customers as a credit card surcharge. Why would a café charge $5.08 when they can charge $5.25 and make more than double the surcharge?

‘In fact this may well lead to that age old opportunity to get it cheaper for cash, if you ask at the counter.

‘The headache for small businesses has been that additional large payment not daily, not weekly but monthly of their credit card fees. It all comes down to cash flow and cash flow management, which not all small businesses are good at.

We are told that these fees, known as interchange fees, will be reduced to the merchant on October the 1st but at this point there is no indication on how much the reduction will be or whether it will make a material difference to the fees paid by small business people to banks and credit card facility operators. This cost needs to be recovered somehow.

30/03/2026

Dinner with the Deputy Premier - https://mailchi.mp/e39e9dc5b018/dinner-with-the-deputy-premier-5810325

27/03/2026

Be seen creating scenes at Hobart’s new Pet Scene! The Van Diemen Pet Expo aims to please - human food delights, and fur-human delights. From premium air-dried treats to doggie doughnuts to pup-cakes. We can’t wait to see you there!! “keep it local. keep it Tassie” m

27/03/2026

24/03/2026

Join the Chair of the TSBC at Dinner with the Deputy Premier - https://mailchi.mp/45f654188832/dinner-with-the-deputy-premier