Death by 1000 cuts

Posted: 21 June 2025

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Death by 1000 cuts

This week I received a passionate anonymous email in response to our recent updates on advocacy. While I don’t know who sent it, I want to thank them. Their words reflected the very real frustration, fatigue, and resilience so many small and medium businesses are feeling.

The truth is, businesses are doing it tough and have been for years. Closures aren’t caused by one big problem but death by a thousand cuts:

  • Payroll tax bracket creep
  • Soaring insurance and energy costs
  • Product price increases
  • Red tape and compliance complexity
  • Another minimum wage rise from July 1
  • And for some, concerns about their safety and property due to crime and antisocial behaviour

Layer that with workforce shortages and global uncertainty impacting costs and international supply chains and it’s a lot.

Yet in our conversations with members, yes there is frustration around the areas highlighted but I still hear optimism from people working 70+ hours a week, some not paying themselves minimum wage or super, yet still backing their business and their region.
These are the real concerns we regularly take to decision-makers. We don’t pretend to have all the answers but we are here to represent business and influence change, and sometimes there is a photo.
Over the past 18 months, we’ve built stronger relationships at every level of government. We’ve called out issues, offered solutions, and been invited into decision-making rooms. Change happens when we’re in the room not just continually shouting from outside (although there’s a time for that too).

The Chamber is also a business, one that relies on membership fees and profit positive events to exist. The good news is we’ve been growing:

  • Events are busier than ever,
  • Sponsors are approaching us before we set event dates
  • Members are stepping up to connect, contribute and support each other
  • And more businesses are joining because they see value in a collective voice that’s being heard

To the anonymous emailer thank you. I’d genuinely welcome a meeting with you and any of our members to listen, to learn and see where we can do better and continue to grow as individuals and an organisation.

And to everyone else if you’d like to get more involved, we’d love to have you. Sponsor an event, host a workshop, join a working group — this is your Chamber.
Nominations for the Business Awards close on Monday with applications due by 30th June, and our early bird gala tickets closing the same day. It’s going to be a fantastic celebration of local business and the people driving our region forward. (More about that here >> https://www.townsvillechamber.com.au/business-awards-2025/ )
We are only as strong as the people in our Chamber and this community is something special, thanks for being a part of it.
Enjoy your weekend

Heidi

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