Originally published in The Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
What's going on for small business right now? We have seen the first quarterly improvement since August 2022, suggesting that conditions might be stabilising and the most difficult days are possibly behind us.
But we need to do more to make sure we get the best out of the small business economy for both our national wellbeing and community benefit.
Originally published in The Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
ASBFEO recently released our fourth Small Business Pulse - a health-check on the small business operating environment.
It recorded a microscopic improvement of 0.1 per cent this quarter. This is the first quarterly increase since August 2022 after a significant deterioration that occurred in the post-COVID period.
Originally posted in the Canberra Times
It is pleasing to see so much recent attention on what is needed to bolster our economic resilience and to restore living standards at a time of uncertainty and disruption. International economic uncertainty is exacerbating existing and persistently strong pressures on many small and family businesses.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the returning Government’s new Ministry with the Hon Dr Anne Aly appointed to Cabinet as the Minister for Small Business.
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has welcomed Dr Anne Aly to the small business portfolio and the important retention of the Minister for Small Business as a Cabinet-level appointment.
Originally published in The Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
As we return to business as usual after the election, I am hopeful that the incoming government will have a very strong and prominent focus on small and family businesses. It is urgent and necessary.
Published in the Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
The small business landscape looks different from 30 years ago, but what hasn't changed is the passionate and hard-working small business owners and entrepreneurs who are building businesses across the country to delight their customers and clients.
Originally Published in The Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
Vibrant, culturally and linguistically diverse small businesses are essential to growing our economy.
WE ALL depend on the small and family-run businesses in our lives - from your local café to your dog groomer, GP or landscaper.
The more than 2.6 million small businesses around the country are a vibrant and diverse group of passionate people who are carving out small business livelihoods and making significant contributions to workplaces, communities and the economy.
Originally published in The Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
More and more women are creating new businesses to find solutions to everyday problems.
About 35 per cent of small businesses are owned or led by women.
This is double the rate in the 1970s.
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Stephen Cenatiempo.
Radio 2CC Canberra
Subject: 2025-26 Federal Budget, instant asset write-off, insolvency, small business conditions
Stephen Cenatiempo
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says tonight’s 2025-26 Federal Budget was ‘the sequel’ to last year’s, offering modest targeted measures to help small and family business deal with specific current pain points and headwinds.
The Ombudsman said that struggling small businesses will have to look to and hope for election commitments that present a decisive positive action plan to ‘put some wind in their sails’, lift their prospects for success and to turn around a post-COVID period of tough trading conditions.