About us
The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) supports and advocates for small and family businesses across Queensland. These businesses are defined as those with fewer than 20 full-time employees (or equivalent), regardless of their structure or turnover.
Under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022, the QSBC delivers services to improve the business environment for small and family businesses. This includes reducing the time and cost of resolving disputes and providing advice and assistance to support their success.
Nicolle Kelly
Assumed the role of Acting Small Business Commissioner on 4 October 2025 and was appointed as Queensland’s Small Business Commissioner on 5 February 2026.
Nicolle grew up in a small business household and saw her parents live the realities of running a family business.
Nicolle has a well-credentialled background in government, including working extensively with small and family businesses through senior executive roles in innovation and SportsTech. “Running a small business involves the whole family and, from being immersed in small businesses growing up, I know what it takes to succeed, and the value small businesses contribute to their communities and the economy.
“I also understand how government works because I’ve spent a significant part of my career inside it and I know how to get things done through those channels. “That makes me well placed to contribute to a fair and competitive trading landscape, to drive red tape reduction, and ensure Queensland small businesses are heard, supported and respected.
“I’m honoured to be appointed to this role and look forward to working with Minister Minnikin and the broader Crisafulli Government, and with my industry and government networks, to deliver for Queensland small and family businesses.
Nicolle Kelly
Queensland Small Business Commissioner
Statutory functions
The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) commenced operation on 28 May 2020 under the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 (CER Act) and transitioned to a permanent service under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022 (SBC Act) on 3 May 2022.
The main object of the SBC Act is to enhance the operating environment for small businesses in Queensland and reduce the time and costs associated with resolving leasing disputes involving small businesses.
The SBC Act includes 8 functions for the small business commissioner including:
- to provide a central point of contact in relation to matters affecting small businesses; and
- to provide information and advisory services to the public about matters relating to small businesses; and
- to assist parties in reaching an informal resolution for leasing disputes, including by facilitating the exchange of information between the parties; and
- to provide alternative dispute resolution services and administer a mediation process for leasing disputes; and
- to advocate on behalf of small businesses to the State, the Commonwealth, another State or a local government; or any other entity involved in administering a matter relevant to small businesses; and
- to work collaboratively with the equivalent of the commissioner in other States or the Commonwealth to enhance conditions for small businesses; and
- to perform functions conferred on the commissioner under another Act; and
- to carry out other activities to further the objects of this Act, as directed by the Minister.
The QSBC also has jurisdiction of retail tenancy disputes and related mediations under the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 (RSL Act).
The QSBC cannot assist customers in dispute with a small business or mediate business to business disputes. Use our dispute assistance finder to understand which service you should contact to help with your non-leasing dispute.
Commissioner appointment
Nicolle Kelly was appointed as Small Business Commissioner on 5 February 2026 under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022.
Dominique Lamb, 23 December 2022 – 3 October 2025 under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022
Maree Adshead, 3 May 2022 – 22 December 2022, under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022
Maree Adshead, 21 May 2020 – 29 April 2022, under the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020
Annual reports
Statutory decisions
There is no current statutory decisions
The following statutory decisions have been made by the Acting Small Business Commissioner under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022:
- Information Notice – Fee waiver for Tropical Cyclone Alfred and associated weather (until 2/4/2026)
- Information Notice – Fee waiver for Western Queensland Surface Trough (until 7/4/2026)
- Waiver of mediation fees for a class of parties, Lease disputes impacted by Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding 21 March 2025 – 7 April 2026
- Waiver of mediation fees for a class of parties, Lease disputes impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred 1 March 2025 – 2 April 2026
- Waiver of mediation fees for a class of parties, Lease disputes impacted by North and Far North Tropical Low 29 January 2025 – 14 February 2026
- Waiver of mediation fees for a class of parties, Toombul Shopping Centre, 1 June 2022 – 31 August 2022 (PDF, 139KB)
- Waiver of mediation fees for a class of parties, Lease disputes impacted by TC Jasper, 13 December 2023 – 13 June 2024
- Waiver of mediation fees for class of parties, Lease disputes impacted by significant weather event 25-26 December 2023, effective 25 December 2023-13 June 2024.
Statement of Expectations
On 4 March 2026, the Honourable Steve Minnikin, Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business, gave the Small Business Commissioner a Statement of Expectations.
On 15 April 2026, Nicolle Kelly, Small Business Commissioner, gave the Minister a Statement of Intent.
- Statement of Expectations from the Minister to the Acting Small Business Commissioner – October 2025
- Statement of Intent from the Acting Small Business Commissioner – October 2025
- Statement of Expectations from the Minister to the Small Business Commissioner – December 2024
- Statement of Intent from the Small Business Commissioner – January 2025
Directions from the Minister
There are no current directions in writing from the Minister under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022.
No directions have been received from the Minister to date.
Our vision
Creating a supportive environment where Queensland small businesses can thrive.
Our promise
We are committed to supporting all Queensland small and family businesses.
We value empathy, respect, and inclusion in every interaction, ensuring everyone feels heard and valued.
Our services aim to promote success, sustainability, and wellbeing for businesses and the broader community.
Our goals
We understand the unique needs of Queensland small and family businesses and know that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. To support their success, we will:
Be dedicated to our vision
- Empower self-reliance and deliver options promptly
- Offer accurate insights and act fairly within our responsibilities
- Work transparently and communicate in a straightforward, clear manner.
Deliver empathetic services
- Deliver empathetic services and support for everyone.
- Address individual needs, set clear timeframes, and meet deadlines
- Keep everyone informed and follow through on our commitments.
Provide practical solutions
- Create straightforward, integrated, and practical solutions
- Adapt our work practices as technology advances
- Listen actively to continually improve our services.
Customer testimonials
Many thanks for all your assistance and achieving an agreed outcome. I would not have thought it possible but certainly highly skilled, professional facilitation, mediation, and a willingness by both parties for a mutual satisfactory outcome. So very well done! Many thanks to all!
QSBC have been helping me navigate a very emotional stressful upheaval in my life… I just wanted to say thank you to you and your staff at QSBC. I have been treated with kindness, support and empathy. They are truly the right people for their jobs. Thank you.
You are amazing at what you do, thank you ever so much! Regardless of the outcome the fact that you are helping me is overwhelming and muchly appreciated.
Congratulations on having your appointment being made permanent so you can keep up the great work, it’s the best Christmas present the people of Queensland could have hoped for! Even if they don’t know it yet and the work you and your office does has a direct and positive impact on a huge number of people and that impact naturally flows on to others around them. From the call centre operators up, everyone has been unfailingly helpful, professional, and pleasant to deal with; and the net result is that your office is a pleasure to deal with, and amazingly efficient.
I’m sure the small businesses are very appreciative of the work done by your office to simplify the support available which, as you say, is a great deal of information to comprehend.
Thank you for meeting with us recently to discuss the recommendations of the Patents Accessibility Review (‘PAR’) on arbitration services for patent disputes. My team and I are grateful for the views and experience you and your colleague Luke shared with us during our meeting. These discussions will help inform the [Australian] Government’s decisions regarding the recommendations.
Thank you for the very informative conversation on the phone. You understood our situation and gave us solutions; I had a much better night’s sleep last night. I wish I had known to ring the QSBC earlier.
Thank you for your support with this matter – I appreciated your kind words and sage advice. I don’t think I would have received a cent without QSBC’s involvement…
I wanted to let you know that our previous landlord has paid the outstanding bond! Thank you so much for your assistance with this matter, I truly don’t think that they would have paid unless we engaged the Small Business Commissioners office.
Totally blown away with the help I received – it was a breath of fresh air! Ray was very helpful and the email has all the steps I needed in it to take action. You guys are a bit unusual – following up!
Everyone has been wonderful. A brilliant team….never had such great service EVER!!