Small Biz Matters: People, Policy, Purpose.

Practical ways to support your business and your planet With special guest Donny Chien, Co Founder yWaste

Small Biz Matters – #184 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 3 November 2020

As we hurtle towards the middle of the 21st century small businesses are becoming more and more environmentally conscious and good habits are beginning to emerge. Whether it be reducing our carbon footprint, investigating our supply chain, going paper free there are many strategies we can implement to reduce our impact not only as individuals but as business consumers.

But have you considered food waste and the relationship your small business has with this element? How do you and your staff consume it, source it and ultimately, dispose of it. Haven't thought about it yet? Well, considering food security is emerging as a major global issue, you might want to rethink that.

There are programs in place that you can access to reduce your small business’ food print. Here to share with us the mindset to rethink your small business’ relationship to waste, great practical strategies plus a little bit about the reality of the start up world is Donny Chien, the Founder of yWaste.

Welcome to the show Donny.

Topics we’ll be covering:

• Food waste & food security
  • What can small business do to reduce their food waste
  • The circular economy - through the vehicles of donations vs sales
  • Look at food as a resource rather than a commodity
  • Our changing relationship to food.
    • Who and when do we consider food to be waste?
    • The economics of food security

• Change in perspectives of consumers
  • What has changed - Changing behaviours, it’s making sense to the broader community, it’s no longer a trend or fad, it’s a bit more of a reality
  • Could this concept help you grow your business?
  • Building trust in the local community
  • Turn waste in customers- and environmentally value drivenlocal customers
  • Targeting the environmentally conscious consumer and how businesses can better address the “green” expectations

• yWaste’s start up story
  • Telling it like it is as opposed to the San Francisco Garage Startup Drea
  • Startup newbies - it’s not all warm and fuzzy - beware of engagements being personality driven, PR, “greenwashing”
  • It’s not just a dream - its very, very hard and requires a strong why and drive and patience
  • But, there’s lots of like-minded people to collaborate with - the collective moving in one direction

To find out more go to their website: https://ywasteapp.com/  

About our Guest:

Donny Chien is a long term Local Ku-ring-gai Resident( not sure if this is a founder), 2nd Generation Taiwanese Australian and co founder of YWaste. Y Waste was founded in 2017 as a way to help restaurants, takeaway shops and cafes across the country reduce food waste. “A third of food produced in retail goes in the bin simply because it’s unsold at the end of the day. That’s a lot of food being wasted, and being the son of Taiwanese immigrants, where his father lost his parents when he was four, and he suffered from food insecurity, so I grew up learning never to waste food. Ywaste is an crowd sourced App that serves a digital platform to effectively solve the first worlds dumbest problem in food waste and a response to his anti food waste values which as part of his upbringing by connecting those who have surplus unsold food to the local community of waste warriors and want to support the local businesses who support these values.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ywaste.com.ywaste&hl=en (Android)

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ywaste-reduce-food-waste/id1265599631?mt=8 (iOS)

https://m.facebook.com/ywasteAU/

Instagram ywasteau

The latest regular update from the Aust Bureau of Statistics With special guest John Shepherd, General Manager, Industry Statistics Division at ABS

Small Biz Matters – #183 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 27 October 2020

Time to get excited about statistics. No, really!

As small business owners we are often reminded to learn who our ideal client is and research this with gusto until we have a perfect image in our minds as to who they are and what makes them tick. We normally gather this info from anecdotal experiences and conversations with other business owners or mentors.

But what if all this ideal info like location, B2B details, demographic, political persuasion, customs and habits, and social media use was already easily and freely available.

Well, guess what… it is!

There’s a government department full of real boffins who are passionate about sharing this wealth of knowledge and when it comes to collecting, analysing and delivering this sort of data they’ve made it accessible and useful to small business - and now have a brand new website too!

Its all there for the taking and today we welcome back John Shepherd the General Manager, Industry Statistics Division at ABS to explain how and why we should tap into this goldmine of data.

Topics we’ll be covering:

Sharing the latest ABS updates for small business

• COVID business survey)
• Patterns and trends
• Jobs and wages info (from 700,000 businesses) which can be broken down by sectors
• Latest retail trade survey
• Business conditions updates

Why check out the new website?

• Easy to digest info
• Start with business snapshot then go and explore the main page
• Jobs and wages info (from 700,000 businesses) then breaking down by sectors > how can businesses use the data

Upcoming developments in the pipeline to help small business

• Building on success on STP and exploring ways a business can report survey data through their software
• Making sure the data is safe, aggregated and ready to use
• Email address to be involved for beta testing to help make this useful

To find out more go to their website: www.abs.gov.au

• All about the ABS - https://www.abs.gov.au/about?OpenDocument&ref=topBar
• ABS response to COVID-19 - https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/home/ABS%20responds%20to%20COVID-19.
• A handy calendar that lists statistical releases for the coming six months - https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/webpages/ABS+Release+Calendar

About our Guest:

John Shepherd is the General Manager leading the Industry Statistics Division. The Industry Statistics Division is responsible for developing, compiling, analysing and disseminating statistical information across a range of sectors including Agriculture, Environment, Building and Construction, Transport, Tourism, Financial Institutions, Innovation and Technology. The Division also produces Main Economic Indicators including Private New Capital Expenditure, Retail Trade, Business Indicators, Building Approvals, Job Vacancies, New Motor Vehicle Sales and Housing and Lending Finance. The Division includes the Statistical Infrastructure and International Branch, encompassing the International Relations & Regional Statistical Development section, the Business Register Unit and the Statistical Standards and Infrastructure section. The Division is focussed on working with its partners to provide a strong information base for policy development and evaluation. John joined the ABS in June 2019 after a lengthy career at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

At the ATO, John held a number of senior roles in his 28 years, including leading significant change programs and projects focused on improving the client experience. John’s most recent role was leading the implementation of the Single Touch Payroll (STP) initiative, enabling employers to report their tax and superannuation information for their employees at the same time as they paid staff. STP aims to streamline business reporting to government and support better tax and super experiences for all employees. John also played an active role in superannuation reform, including leading the implementation of SuperStream and a number of other superannuation reform initiatives including online superannuation account consolidation.

John is a passionate Movember ambassador and fundraiser for men’s health initiatives.

John holds a Masters of Taxation from the University of NSW and is based in Canberra.

Highlights from the upcoming CEBIT SMB Digital Conference With special guests Danielle Owen-Whitford, Founder of Pioneera & Braden Voigt Founder of Lynkz

Small Biz Matters – #182 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 13 October 2020

The annual CEBIT conference is a must on the small business education calendar. Always covering a wide range of interesting, thought provoking subjects, this year’s online version - the SMB Digital two day Conference held on 20th and 21st October is no exception. And it’s all free!

Topics will include Data management, Digital transformation, Finance and HR software & technology, Marketing platforms & automation & Security.

There are some CRACKING panels up for grabs and today’s guest joins us for a sneak peak at the quality of experts you’ll experience at the conference.

Danielle Owen Whitford is the founder of Pioneera) and today we’re chatting about ~ Using HR & talent management software to help navigate the new work from home environment and Braden Voigt, Founder of Lynkz,  is with us to chat about the latest developments in software which small business needs to know about.

Topics we’ll be covering:           

Tell us about changing the way we work & manage others

• It’s not just about shifting the exact way you were working previously and shifting it online
• Example – back to back meetings, longer hours, workshops to engage different audiences. Bare in mind not everyone is comfortable to answer online – online meetings are different.
• Easily distracted too.
• Tactics to minimise distractions and being more clear about your expectations

This is obviously a very dynamic time with many businesses being thrown unexpected curveballs. What do you think are some of the ways that SMBs can meet the current challenges while continuing to find ways to build their business?

With respect to the myriad of technologies and tech solutions out there, what are a few areas that you would suggest SMBs focus on in order to get the best results.

• Why its so important that in the era of COVID that small business owners need to keep updated with the latest trends, tech and software to make their business more successful

So make sure you register HERE ~ bit.ly/3nC5Ojl

SMB Digital, powered by CEBIT AUSTRALIA, will take place virtually on 20-21 October, 2020. This two-day event is for small-and medium-sized companies and will appeal to IT decision-makers and professionals, CEOs and Managing Directors and CXOs. The event will be a forum for business owners to better understand how they can utilise new technology to fortify their organisation for the future. Watch and interact during live presentations, panel forums and Q&A sessions. Register for free at www.smb-digital.com.au

About our Guests - Danielle Owen Whitford

Former Corporate Executive that moved into Start-ups in 2018. A boundary pusher throughout her career, she’s constantly challenged the notion of “we can’t do it differently, so we live with what we have”.

Using technology and curiosity to create a new normal, Danielle founded start up Pioneera to tackle the crippling issue of workplace stress, using the simplest of approaches – our words and behaviour. Pioneera’s AI platform combines technology with psychology to predict and prevent workplace stress and is gaining strong traction across both corporate Australia and small businesses.

Danielle speaks regularly on stress, AI, women in technology and leadership and stress and wellbeing.

“Indie” by Pioneera

Covid-19 has changed the way we work, interact and live. Suddenly everything we knew to be true about our people and workplaces is uncertain. Employees working from home have different stresses and over time, decreased resilience. The frequency of mistakes increases, as does missed deadlines. Language can become more negative and emotional. Action is required and Indie by Pioneera improves mental wellbeing and encourages productivity and greater quality of work.

How do you construct an environment where your people are engaged, and you know where and when you need to help them be at their best?

We rely on our senses to connect

When your people are with you, you feel like you know what is happening because of what you see and hear. We rely on our senses to understand and connect with our people. Now, with remote working, or a blend of remote and onsite working, we lose even these simple indicators. So, we struggle to do our best.

Indie does the sensing for you

Pioneera’s bot “Indie” integrates into your communication systems (eg. Email, chat channels) and uses language to help you sense and manage behavioural indicators in real-time. Indie recently helped one of Pioneera’s clients identify that their regular Covid-19 briefings were causing team stress. As they were able to identify this trend in real-time and take instant action, stress immediately reduced and productivity improved. Indie does the sensing when you can’t.

About our Guests - Braden Voigt

Braden has been in the IT industry for nearly 20 years and is the CEO of Lynkz – a wholly Australian-owned software development company – founded in 2017. Lynkz specialises in the delivery of data using machine learning, artificial intelligence and cognitive services. Prior to starting Lynkz in 2017, Braden was the Co-Founder of SixPivot – a software development and solutions company. While at SixPivot, he built the ‘Cloud Control’ product which provides a multi-cloud billing management platform.

Due to the outstanding nature of his work, Braden and his companies have been presented with the following awards: Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Technology (Business News Australia) 2017, 2018 and 2019; Start Up of the Year – Merit Award – 2017; Top 20 Most Innovative Companies in Australia – May, 2017 (Anthill) and Coolest Company – Start Up –2017 (Anthill). He holds a vast array of certifications including multiple Microsoft technologies and is a member of the Azure Advisors program and a member of the Australian Institute of Management.

How we are modernising business registers for Australians … the value of business registry data and what small business needs to know

Small Biz Matters – #181 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 13 October 2020

An ABN is an Australian Business Number which  is required for anyone to be conducting  business activities in Australia. It’s an unique 11-digit identifier issued by the Australian Business Register (ABR) which is operated by the Australian Taxation Office.

We all know this, right?

But what you might not know is the incredible mechanics behind maintaining this huge database used by businesses, advisors, government agencies all over the world.

Did you know the ATO conducts regular audits of these numbers and cancels them if they’re unused over a period of time? Or that the integrity of this system is a fundamental part of the australian financial landscape?

So let’s get it straight from the ABR and the ATO themselves: Michelle Crosby is the Deputy Registrar for the Australian Business Register & Deputy Commissioner, Commonwealth Business Registry Service, ATO

Michelle will talk about the work the ATO is leading to build a modernised registry service and transform the way that businesses interact with government.  She’ll also share new requirements for company directors and discuss how registry information helps governments provide support to businesses and the community.

Welcome to the show Michelle.

Topics we’ll be covering:

What’s changed recently and how is the government modernising in regards to the use of ABR data?

• There is a shared responsibility to keep ABR up to date and accurate, so it can be utilised in times of crisis
• Modernising Business Registers program will create a single business registry
• Chat about the Deregulation Agenda, self service, tell-us-once approach
• State based agencies like Service NSW have been using ABR data to provide a range of support options to small businesses 

What are Director Identification Numbers and why are they being introduced?

• What are the recent changes to the ABN system?
• We want to help Australian businesses and those who want to do the right thing, and equally we want to make it difficult for those who try to do the wrong thing
  • What does the ATO consider the right and wrong things – give examples here?
• Director Identification numbers will be provided to all directors, enabling us to try and do this from next year
  • Why?
  • How is this going to be implemented?

You are the Deputy Registrar of the Australian Business Register, what does your role entail?

• How to the various Govt agencies communicate about our data
• Looking after the ABR – the data is an important national asset and is vital to help us support businesses
• I want to strengthen the ABN system and ensure our data is used to unlock social and economic value - ABN registration insights reflecting challenging business environment and uncertainty due to COVID-19 & ABR data to various levels of government through events like the recent disasters

To find out more go to their website: www.abr.gov.au

About our Guest:

Michelle Crosby, Deputy Registrar, Australian Business Register & Deputy Commissioner, Commonwealth Business Registry Service, Australian Taxation Office

Michelle Crosby is the Deputy Registrar of the Australian Business Register (ABR) and the Deputy Commissioner of the Commonwealth Business Registry Service business line within the Australian Taxation Office.

As Deputy Registrar, Michelle helps businesses manage their Australian Business Number (ABN) registrations, undertakes activities to strengthen the ABN system and assists government agencies to access ABR data.

Michelle is currently leading the Modernising Business Registers (MBR) program, which is a transformative program of work across multiple agencies to build a new registry service. The MBR program will also deliver the director identification number initiative, which will help address illegal phoenix activity.

Learn from Amanda Rose, the powerhouse founder behind Small Business Women Australia

Small Biz Matters – #180 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 6 October 2020

We talk a lot on this program about advocacy and how you, the listener, are a leader. You’re passionate about small business whether that’s you being more successful in your own business, leading others by example or mentoring someone less experienced.

So, thanks to all of you from your small business community.

But what if you took it to the next level? What if you made advocacy your core work and grew a successful business from the foundation of looking after others?

Our guest today has done that not just once, but six times over. Amanda Rose is a columnist, TEXx speaker and the Founder of Small Business Women Australia.

Topics we’ll be covering:

• Tell us about your work with the Small Business Women Australia and how this advocacy strategy has supported specifically this group of small businesses?
• Why did you decide to support women in western Sydney in particular?
• What have you learned from your recent COVID survey results conducted on your Small Business Women Australia group?
• Why is real time data crucial for policy makers and how can it be used more effectively?

To find out more go to their website: https://www.smallbusinesswomenaustralia.com.au/join

About our Guest:

Amanda Rose is Australia’s foremost Strategic Connector, Founder of Small Busi-ness Women Australia, Publisher of Business Woman Media and Founding Director of Western Sydney Women, Western Sydney Executive Women & Managing Partner of Western Sydney Advisory.

As one of the most influential people on LinkedIn, Amanda Rose (#BossLady) is quoted as an “internet winning blogger” by TIME.com and contributes regularly to ABC The Drum, HuffingtonPost, Sydney Morning Herald, Greater Sydney Living Magazine, AFR & SkyBusiness.

Amanda has a weekly #BossLady careers column in the Daily Telegraph.

A passionate keynote speaker, Amanda Rose works with The Australian Defence Force, CPA Australia, Law Institute, UTS, UBER, ANZ, Western Sydney University and the Royal Australian Navy on the areas of confident leadership, conflict resolution & relationship building via connection.

Amanda has a degree in Business majoring in Marketing & Psychology from Macquarie University, a Masters of Communications Management from UTS & Post Grad in Educational Leadership from Macquarie University and is a non executive director at Excelsia College.

What is Neuro Linguistic Programming and how can mindset help you achieve in small business? With special guest Anne McKeown from 2MPower

Small Biz Matters – #179 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 6 October 2020

So, What is Neuro Linguistic Programming and how can mindset help you achieve in small business? It’s certainly not a topic many are thinking about right now as small business in Australia finds itself in the deepest crisis since crisis’ were invented.

But it is exactly that - mindset - which might help you dig your way out of that hole we all find ourselves in. And mindset or mindfulness can come in many forms. Self talk, being thoughtful about how we communicate with others, believing in yourself and the programming that occurs as a result of all  these conscious changes are all examples of NLP.

Even those of us who don’t prescribe to this method of growing our business are utilising it without even realising it.

So let’s acknowledge it as a valuable business tool and start putting it to work.

Anne McKeown, is a highly regarded Master Coach & Trainer who empowers women to turbo-charge the results in their life and business, so they can enjoy more success every day. 

Welcome to the show Anne.

What is NLP?

• Neuro, Linguistic, Programming. NLP - Neuro (our thinking), Linguistic (the language we use (self-talk) and communicating with others), and Programming  (our behaviour that comes as a result of our thoughts and language).
  • In the 1970s Grinder & Bandler wanted to uncover what made some people extra-ordinary/ successful and others not. They discovered it came down to 3 main things : Their beliefs (it is possible). Their mindset (open and positive).  Their strategies (action plan).
• Every thought creates an emotion, this emotion triggers a reaction (verbally and/or physically). Successful people ACT they do not REACT. Understanding the power of the mind is key.
• Awareness around your use of the language is very important. Especially if it’s negative self-talk.  We are often harder on ourselves than anyone else would ever be!  We kill our own confidence and sabotage ourselves with negative self talk.  If we split this word in two lan and gage – it is interesting because this word alone tells us that we can gauge what a person is thinking and feeling by the vocabulary they use eg: I can’t get any sales ... I will try...  I must…     I should… I ought to… VERSUS I can get two sales…    I will...  I choose to….  I want to…  I have decided to. (giving self permission and power to achieve).
• Think of yourself as a communicator. What is your verbal language and body language telling the world?

And what about the mindset and its impact on beliefs and success?

• Answer : Carol Dweck, prof at Stanford University coined the phrase ‘open/closed mindset’
• Closed = black or white, right or wrong, we’ve always done it this way etc. NO GROWTH, NO CHANGE, NO PROGRESS.
• Open = I’m open to learning and growing, I will listen then make up my mind, people are entitled to their views and opinions.
• The person with the most flexibility will enjoy more success.
• NLP teaches that our perceived limits are not our actual limits.

Is there a difference between the Conscious and Unconscious Mind when it comes to achieving our goals?

• Answer : Yes. The CONSCIOUS mind is our goal setter.  It likes to be in charge of logical, conscious processes. It responds well to SMART.  (Specific.  Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed).  When I read the words: goals/targets/aims they make me think of football, archery and darts!  Each of these sports encourage the player to focus in one direction.  All with the same result in mind – to score!  NLP teaches that if you don’t focus your thoughts on what you want to achieve - your mind will quickly fill with unnecessary worries and you will feel overwhelmed, exhausted and confused before you’ve even started to shoot (for a sale!)
• Our UNCONSCIOUS mind is our goal getter because of the part of our brain known as the reticular activating system – RAS for short. Your RAS takes instructions from your conscious mind and passes them on to your unconscious.  You may have played spotto with your kids (start looking for yellow cars and they seem to be everywhere) that was what your conscious mind was focused on so your unconscious mind, did what it was told, and delivered what you were focused on.  This is why you should be careful what you wish for, if you only focus on your needs and wants, your unconscious mind will find you more needs and wants!

To find out more go to their website: http://www.annemckeown.com

About our Guest:

Anne McKeown, www.annemckeown.com is a highly regarded Master Coach & Trainer who empowers women to turbo-charge the results in their life and business, so they can enjoy more success every day. 

Anne is the owner of 2Mpower.co and has created a step-by-step proven ‘Process for Success’ that empowers women to take full control of their life and business by shifting the psychological barriers that hold them back. 

She incorporates NLP techniques when coaching or facilitating individuals and teams because she knows it’s not enough to tell people what to do - it’s essential to show them HOW to do it.

Anne is also a published author and the founder of Sydney Women’s Self-Empowerment Meetup which has over 500 members.

https://www.meetup.com/Sydney-Women-Self-Empowerment-Meetup/

September 2020 Update from ASBFEO & Small Biz Matters With special guest Kate Carnell the Australian Small Business and Family Enterpris­­e Ombudsman

Small Biz Matters – #178 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 29 September 2020

Intro:

Small Biz Matters is proud to announce our ongoing collaboration with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterpris­­e Ombudsman through regular updates from Kate Carnell about all ASBFEO is doing to advocate and support small businesses.

In the second of the series Kate Carnell will update us about ASBFEO’s response to the crisis facing small business. This week we’re updating you on:

• Jobkeeper, FairWork and the eligibility tests
• The latest on negotiations between ASBFEO, Govt and Banks’ response to the crisis
• Commercial tenancies - who’s helping who here?
• Insolvency laws and what it means to be trading insolvent right now

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.

Welcome back to the show Kate Carnell.

Topics we’ll be covering:

JobKeeper 2.0

• From 28 September, the JobKeeper payment will be tapered over two stages.
• 28 September – 3 January 2021:
• Payments to be delivered in 2 tier system to employers that meet the JobKeeper criteria –
  • -              Tier 1 applies to employees that have worked more than 80 hours in the 28-day reference period. This payment is $1,200 per fortnight.
  • -              Tier 2 applies to employees that have worked less than 80 hours in the given 28 day reference period. This payment is $750 per fortnight.
•  
• The following extension period from January 4 – 28 March 2021
• -Tier 1 payments reduce to $1000 per fortnight
• -Tier 2 payments reduce to $600 per fortnight 

Turnover test

• Businesses can pass the actual decline in turnover test either through using the basic test or the alternative test.
• Most businesses will likely use the basic test, which is based on GST turnover.
• In applying the actual decline in turnover test, businesses should note that:
• It must be done for specific quarters only.
• They must use actual sales made in the relevant quarter, not projected sales, when working out their GST turnover.
• They allocate sales to the relevant quarter in the same way they would report those sales to a particular business activity statement if they were registered for GST.
• For the first extension period, a business meets the test when current GST turnover for the quarter ending 30 September 2020 (the months of July, August and September) has declined by the specified shortfall percentage in comparison to their current GST turnover for the quarter ending 30 September 2019.
• Likewise for the second extension period, a business meets the test when their current GST turnover for the quarter ending 31 December 2020 (the months of October, November and December) has declined by the specified shortfall percentage in comparison to their current GST turnover for the quarter ending 31 December 2019.

Alternative test

• The alternative test applies to businesses where the normal comparison period is not appropriate. A common example would be if the business has been operating for less than a year.
• Businesses that are looking to apply for the JobKeeper extension using one of the alternative tests will now need to indicate to the ATO that they are doing so.
• This means filling out an extra box on the form.

 

Banks

• The banks are taking a more flexible approach to small business loan repayments. They are working through assessing the position of customers now. From the ABA website, depending on how the business is fairing, the next step for customers will be one of:
  • Those who can resume repayments at the end of their deferral, will be required to do so;
  • Those still in difficulty, will work with their bank to restructure or vary their loan, including converting to interest only payments for a period of time, or extending the term of the loan;
  • Following the assessment once the bank understands the customers circumstances, in some cases, a further 4-month deferral may be granted, but this will not be automatic; or
  • Customers who will be unable to pay their loan over the longer term will be offered tailored assistance that addresses their needs.

Commercial tenancies

• WA – no change, WA announced on 10 September, they were extending the emergency period under its Commercial Tenancies (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020 until 28 March 2021.
• SA – potentially no change, there is legislation before its Parliament (to be debated this week) to extend SA’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 until 3 January 2021. We will monitor the passage of this bill.
• TAS – no change, TAS announced on 4 September they are extending the financial hardship period under the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Commercial Leases) Act 2020 until 1 December 2020.
• VIC – no change, VIC announced, on 20 August extended its Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme until 31 December 2020.
• ACT – no change, the ACT announced on 10 September that it was extending its current arrangements for SME commercial rents until 31 January 2021.
• QLD – no changes, regulation under the ­COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 does not end until 31 December 2020.
• NSW – no change, Retail and Other Commercial Lease (COVID-19) Regulation 2020 is not to be repealed until 25 October 2020. Will continue to monitor.

Insolvency

• The Federal Government has just announced plans to overhaul insolvency rules to make it easier for small businesses to restructure or wind up. These are in line with our Insolvency Practices Inquiry final report.
• The reforms will allow small businesses to restructure their debts while remaining in control of their business and for those businesses that do need to wind up, the liquidation process will be changed to make it quicker and easier.
• The government has extended the temporary insolvency and bankruptcy protections until 31 December 2020. Temporary changes to statutory demand and bankruptcy notices requiring a debt of $20,000 and allowing six months to pay the amount demanded will also be extended until 31 December 2020.
• My office continues to recommend the establishment of a small business viability voucher program, where small business owners facing financial stress can get a voucher valued up to $5000 to access tailored advice on the state of their 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.

How to understand the Safe Harbour Laws to avoid insolvency and protect your personal assets With special guest with Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO

Small Biz Matters – #177 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 22 September 2020

Intro:

There are some changes afoot. No, I’m not talking about Jobkeeper, cash flow stimulus or any other support package, rather a piece of legislation which has crept up on the small business community. But like all things legal - we need to be aware of it.

A Safe harbour “applies where a director, after beginning to suspect a company may become or be insolvent, starts developing one or more courses of action that are reasonably likely to lead to a better outcome for the company than the immediate appointment of an administrator or liquidator”. What does this mean for a small business, and what’s changed about the important dates particularly in the time of COVID?

Today we’re joined by Wayne Wanders, a virtual CFO who brings with him 35 years as a chartered accountant and decades of experience with real businesses at every stage of their lifecycle. He’s chatting to us about what these laws mean for you and your small business.

Welcome to the show Wayne.

Topics we’ll be covering:

• Why there is an increased risk of your business being placed into administration from late December 2020.
• What is the potential impact on your business and your personal assets if you do go into administration.
• What are the Safe Harbour laws and how can you use these to protect both your business and your personal assets.

To find out more go to their website: www.arealcfo.com.au

About our Guest:

Wayne Wanders, has been a fully qualified chartered accountant for 35 years including being the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of two businesses listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

For the last 20 years, Wayne, through his own small business, A Real CFO, has worked alongside many small and medium businesses.  He offers his talents, strengths, skills and experience as an outsourced CFO.  Letting small and medium business owners access the finance and business skills that big businesses take for granted, without the big business price tag.

Wayne has seen the ups and downs of many businesses.  Some of these have been through economy wide issues such as the GFC, or the recession we had to have in the early 1990s.  Others are just from the normal cycle many businesses experience.

This experience has led to Wayne developing his own strategies, systems and processes to help business.

One of these is Wayne’s Business Survival Guide which was developed to help business survive and thrive during down times, just like many businesses are facing today.

In Defence of Shame - can this book provide some guidance to Advisors of small business? With special guest Dr Tanveer Ahmed, Psychiatrist, columnist and author of In Defence of Shame

Small Biz Matters – #176 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 15 September 2020

I enjoy having authors as guests on Small Biz Matters. They’re great talent having researched for their publication and really knowing how to articulate the issues explained within; often drawing on their own experiences to bring the book to life. Much like a small business owner does with their baby.

One could argue that the emotions associated with Shame are common amongst new small businesses; being concerned about what others think, previous failures which follow us around like the Black Dog … but do these ever really leave us?

Today’s guest brings with him a wealth of media and small business experience plus a more personal viewpoint on the topic of shame. And he’s not ashamed to talk about it.

From a book review: ...make (ing) a compelling case for the rehabilitation of the "ugly emotion". The book is rich with arguments and examples from literature and ordinary life. Although demanding, the reading pays off, especially by providing clear and refreshing distinctions between shame, guilt, embarrassment and humiliation.

Welcome to the show Dr Ahmed.

Topics we’ll be covering:

• Let’s begin with your latest book - In Defence of Shame. Tell us about the process of writing and the concepts behind it.
  • Is there something to be learned here for small business owners and their advisers?
• Let’s talk about the small businesses in the Health sector - what are the flaws of the current system and what could be done to support doctors, essentially emerging small businesses start a practice?
  • Being a doctor is spending many years as a wage earner in hospital systems, learning nothing about business or money, then suddenly being thrust out in the private sector and essentially having no idea how to run a business.
  • The changing nature of consumer preferences and the concept of democratisation of this information as clients (patients) seek you out in other ways apart from classic GP referrals
    • the doctor is the traditional "professional" but the nature of doing business has changed significantly and reflects trends in society and economy.

• You’ve written several books, why is this another potential stream of growing your brand as an industry expert?
  • A wage earner part-time in public hospital and writing (which is its own business of building yourself as a brand)

 

• You’ve chosen to lead a public life; balancing politics, journalism and psychiatry in private and public practice. Can this public life affect my brand as a psychiatrist? how might I protect it or do I try and keep them separate?
  • media business is the toughest of all and effectively requires subsidising from my doctoring.
  • What publications’ contributions have been the most challenging for you?
  • the Fin Review column has been useful for me; forceing me to apply ideas I have relating to social issues, but to business. ask about how the workplace, both in small and big business, has become the site for a whole lot of modern clashes in values eg diversity, mental health, gender wars etc.

• Advice regarding good mental health, maintaining boundaries between work and life especially during Covid.

To find out more go to their website: https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/In-Defence-of-Shame--Tanveer-Ahmed_p_368.html

About our Guest:

Dr Tanveer Ahmed is a psychiatrist, author and columnist for the Australian Financial Review, writing about social issues. He is a former local government representative having served in the City of Canada Bay. His private practice is at the Hills Clinic in Kellyville. Dr Ahmed's most recent book is titled "In Defence of Shame".

What’s better than a great small business podcast? TWO! With special guest Dan & Tim from Two Drunk Accountants

Small Biz Matters – #175 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 8 September 2020

What could possibly be better than one small business educational podcasts? Two!!

Dan Osborne and Tim Garth from Two Drunk Accountants started their podcast a few years ago when they realised that accountants have a lot to give and talk about when it comes to their industry and small business education. Coupled with excellent commentary on the financial services sector and a generally good vibe, this podcast is highly recommended by yours truly.

So... what brings these like-minded vocal entrepreneurs together? Advocacy !

You see, just like Small Biz Matters, 2 Drunk Accountants do it out of a passion to deliver great advocacy for small business and excellent content when it was lacking for years. But there are a lot of companies and business leaders out there who do advocacy for other reasons.

It is time we asked the question: Who has a seat at the table? And who really represents small business when key policies that affect your ability to function, are decided?

Welcome to the show Dan & Tim!

Topics we’ll be covering:

• So, tell us a little about the podcast Two Drunk Accountants and why you started it in the first place?
  • What sort of guests and topics do you cover?
• Let’s talk Advocacy - what do organisations like the business chambers actually do for small business?
  • Who in your opinion can we trust?
  • Who you get contact to help make changes as a business owner
• A big question “who’s is in the room” when those decisions which impact every facet of your business, are legislated?
  • Roundtables and presentations - who speaks for small business?
  • What sort of lobbyists make up small business?
• Inequities in small business loans. Many small businesses are cashflowing their businesses with credit cards @20% as opposed to big business being able to get bank loans more easily.

To find out more go to their website: https://www.facebook.com/twodrunkpodcast/

About our Guest:

The Two Drunk Accountants is a weekly small business podcast that dispels the myths and mysteries of running a small business over a lovely beverage. Hosts Dan Osborne and Tim Garth are accountants based on the Central Coast on a quest to support, teach and help grow small businesses. On a daily bases this happens through their accounting firm CATS Accountants but once a week they get together and tackle hot topics like business planning and jobkeeper, interview guests in the industry and provides plenty of banter along the way.