Commercial Ready falls to budget razor 5:14pm 26.05.08

Minister for Innovation Kim Carr last week launched Enterprise Connect, a $251 million program designed as a national network of manufacturing and innovation centres providing industrial advice on the themes of mining technology, remote enterprise, innovative regions, creative industries and clean energy.

Enterprise Connect will replace Commercial Ready, a program worth over $700 million, which provided seed capital to entrepreneurs. Carr hopes Enterprise Connect will work better than Commercial Ready, on less money.
 
Opposition spokesperson Senator Eric Abetz panned the new program because it only provided advice, not money. "Enterprise Connect doesn't even come close to replacing Commercial Ready when it comes to innovating and bringing products to market. Commercial Ready was actually providing small business with cash; a pretty significant difference."