As you’d hope Australia’s Small Business Minister is a big supporter of local businesses.
At a media event in her Tasmanian electorate this week, SmartCompany asked Julie Collins MP to recommend a local business or two.
Diplomatically, she mentioned the mushroom farm that we were standing in – that’s Tunnel Hill Mushrooms – which grows a variety of fungi for Hobart’s restaurant trade – and also a wonderful neighbourhood eatery in nearby Bellerive named Marla Singer, which we know she fraternises regularly because we saw her debriefing there after the press conference, while we enjoyed a coffee.
The very stylish Minister Collins also drew our attention to her (beautiful) earrings, which she said were purchased – like all her earrings – locally in her electorate at home and personal adornment retailer Urban Attic.
“I spend a lot of time buying earrings, they’re my thing,” said Minister Collins. “They’re cheap, easy to carry and there’s a lot of great Tasmanian small businesses producing earrings.”
Simon Crerar is the managing director of Impact&ble, a sustainable impact advisory firm. He was editor-in-chief of SmartCo Media from 2022-24, and before that the founding editor and then GM of BuzzFeed Australia. Simon began his career on Fleet Street at The Times, and has also worked for the SMH and News Corp Australia. He champions businesses having a positive impact on LinkedIn.
