SUNSHINE COAST – THE SMALL BUSINESS CITY
The Sunshine Coast is outpacing Australia’s growth in start-up businesses, and member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien wants to enable that trend.
Mr O’Brien will launch his Spring Road Trip next week, talking to his Fairfax federal electorate about small business.
The former businessman, who has 20 years’ national and international experience, is passionate about fostering innovators and start-ups and assisting small businesses to succeed.
“The Sunshine Coast is on the brink of a new future, with more people and companies choosing to open shop locally, attracted to our fantastic lifestyle,” said Mr O’Brien.
“We are seeing more and more start-ups, exciting innovations and determined entrepreneurs who realise the benefits of commerce on the Coast.
“But, starting a new business can be a tough, lonely experience and quite the rollercoaster ride and that’s why I’m here to help.”
The Sunshine Coast is becoming known as the “small business city”, experiencing a seven per cent increase in small businesses in the two years to 2016 (higher than the national increase of five per cent).
The hotbeds of activity have been the Maroochydore CBD where the number of businesses spiked 13 per cent (to 711 businesses), the Noosa Hinterland (650 businesses, mostly farmers), Buderim North (614 businesses) and Marcoola-Mudjimba (up 26 per cent).*
ABS census data also reveals the proportion of the Sunshine Coast workforce owning their own business is higher on the Coast – at 22 per cent in 2011 compared to Brisbane’s 13 per cent and the Gold Coast’s 20 per cent.*
To talk small business with Ted O’Brien, please come to his listening posts at the following locations:
- Monday 9 October: Woolies Mountain Creek, 8.30am – 9.30am
- Tuesday 10 October: Pub in Mapleton, 8:30am – 9.30am. Marty Hunt, LNP State Candidate for Nicklin will also be in attendance.
- Wednesday 11 October: Coles at North Shore Village, Pacific Paradise, 8.30am – 9.30am
- Thursday 12 October: Dick Caplick Park, opposite the Imperial Hotel, Memorial Drive, Eumundi, 8.30am – 9.30am. Dan Purdie, State LNP State Candidate for Ninderry will also be in attendance.
- Friday 13 October: Australia Post on Windsor Drive, Burnside, 8.30am – 9.30am
Or if you would like to confirm a time to Talk to Ted, please call 5479 2800.
Ted’s business background
Ted O’Brien started as a trainee baker in the family business – Defiance Mills – and progressed up the ranks to senior management based in Asia before working for the Australian rice industry and later global technology giant Accenture where he managed mergers and acquisitions and the negotiation of big deals throughout Asian and emerging markets. He also brings considerable experience in establishing new businesses and helping others through the start-up process.
Ted is passionate about using his experience to help progress the Sunshine Coast.
*The Activated City: Imagining the Sunshine Coast in 2040 (KPMG report).