Update from ASBFEO & Small Biz Matters

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 7 July 2020

Small Biz Matters is proud to announce a new collaboration with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterpris­­e Ombudsman - regular updates from Kate Carnell about all her office is doing to advocate and support small businesses. Kate Carnell, as an independent advocate for small business owners, has the legislative power to influence our nation’s lawmakers, ensuring legislation and regulations are put in place to help small businesses grow and in these times, survive.

Small businesses are the engine room of the economy and it’s ASBFEO’s role to do all they can to ensure they have the freedom to innovate, employ and thrive well into the future.

We’ll be regularly broadcasting information on small business strategies, programs and legislative updates which you, as a small business owner in Australia can rely on from the office of ASBFEO and Small Biz Matters.

In the first of the series Kate’s speaking to us about the COVID-19 recovery plan, improvements to payment times and updates in the areas of taxation and procurement.

Welcome back to the show Kate Carnell.

Topics we’ll be covering:

• The COVID-19 National recovery plan
  • What is ASBFEO’s role in these sort of discussions & who does ASBFEO speak to when advocating for us?
  • Is it similar to a lobbyist’s role?
• Taxation update
  • We know about the instant asset write-off which has been extended but in terms of tax (particularly with it being EOFY) what other developments has ASBFEO been working on for small business?
• Procurement panel update
  • What is the intention of the procurement panel and why does ASBFEO believe this is an important reform?
• Payment times
  • Something we are passionate about here at Small Biz Matters is accelerating the economy through ANY sort of improvement to payment times for small business.
  • Have any of the recent reforms made any difference in reality for small businesses?
  • Is mandating payment times a reality or even a possibility?
• Access to justice
  • One of the roles of ASBFEO is to support small business in business disputes. Can you give some examples of the sorts of scenarios and businesses you’ve helped?
• IR reforms – federal level, small business award
  • Industrial relations is a real minefield for small business. In some ways it actually restricts our ability to employ and as Australia’s largest employer in these times of employment crisis it’s not ideal.
  • What’s currently happening in this space to reduce the compliance burden for small business?

To find out more go to their website: https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/

About our Guest:

The Ombudsman - Kate Carnell

"In this role I will seek to bring together the many voices within the small business community in a way that promotes growth in this vital sector."

Kate Carnell is the inaugural Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO).

As the ASBFEO, she is an independent advocate for small business owners.  Her office has the legislative powers needed to effectively influence our nation’s lawmakers, ensuring legislation and regulations are put in place to help small businesses grow.

The ASBFEO office also provides small businesses and family enterprises with assistance should they find themselves involved in a business dispute.

Small businesses are the engine room of the economy; it’s a big reputation to live up to, so we need to do all we can to ensure they have the freedom to innovate, employ and thrive well into the future.

About ASBFEO

Australia is a nation of small businesses and family enterprises.  It’s a dynamic and exciting sector that allows people with an entrepreneurial spirit to pursue their dreams.

One of the fastest growing in the economy, the sector presents many opportunities – and challenges – for those who dedicate themselves to pursing a small business venture.

The ASBFEO's role is to support small businesses and family enterprises to enable them to grow and thrive.

The ASBFEO was launched on 11 March 2016 and has two key functions: to assist and to advocate for small businesses and family enterprises.

ASSIST:

We understand the challenges facing small business owners. We provide access to dispute resolution services for those who may be involved in a disagreement, so they can try and find a solution to their problem without having to go to court.

ADVOCATE:

There are a number of different activities the Ombudsman may conduct in fulfilling the role of small business advocate. Broadly these include:

• Conduct inquiries and research
• Work with other arms of government
• Contribute to other inquiries
• Promote good business practice.