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    Disputes & Assistance

    The ASBFEO responds to requests for assistance from small businesses and family enterprises that are in dispute with other businesses or Commonwealth Government agencies. 

    We provide information about dispute resolution options, access to mediation, alternative dispute resolution processes under the Franchising, Horticulture, Dairy and Oil Codes of Conduct, and assistance with disputes with the ATO.  

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    The ASBFEO understand the challenges facing small businesses and family enterprises. 

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    There are so many useful resources, tools and sources of information which assist and support small businesses and family enterprises to run their business.

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    Connect with us and keep up with our latest news, media releases, social media, successes and policy and advocacy work. 

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    Our Small Business Data Portal brings together the latest statistics about small businesses and family enterprises and their contribution to the Australian economy.

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Small Business Pulse - February 2025

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  • Media Centre item (257)

Media Section

  • Disputes & Assistance (2)
  • Policy & Advocacy (2)
  • Resources & Tools Centre (1)
  • (-) Media Centre (257)

Media Source

  • ASBFEO Live (257)

Success story type

OMBUDSMAN WELCOMES FRANCHISING REVIEW AND APPOINTMENT OF REVIEWER

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of a review of the effectiveness of the regulatory framework that underpins the positive commercial…

… in the Australian franchise economy. The review, to be chaired by former ACCC Deputy Commissioner, Dr … help to ensure the framework is fit-for-purpose at this time of change and dynamism in the small business economy. … help to ensure the framework is fit-for-purpose at this time of change and dynamism in the small business economy. …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Small business recovery aided by access to finance: Ombudsman

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the Australian Government’s extension of the SME Recovery Loan Scheme, providing small and family businesses with critical access to finance as they work to…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the Australian Government’s extension of the SME Recovery Loan Scheme, providing small and family businesses with critical access to finance as they work to…

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

ASBFEO WEBSITE NOW AVAILABLE IN MORE THAN 100 LANGUAGES

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s website – www.asbfeo.gov.au - is now available in more than 100 languages to better assist migrant-led small and family business owners and managers.

“One in three small businesses…

… “I hope this new feature on our website, which can be activated by one simple click, will make it easier for … In almost two-thirds of these cases, the issue was about a payment dispute.” The translation feature is clearly located … In almost two-thirds of these cases, the issue was about a payment dispute.” The translation feature is clearly located …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

ONE WEEK LEFT TO SECURE YOUR DIGITAL IDENTITY – DON’T GET CAUGHT SHORT

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has warned small businesses there’s only one week left to take action to avoid their internet identity being sold to someone else.

“It is critical to act now to make…

… But the consequences for a small or family business could be massive if impersonators, web-name ‘squatters’ or cyber … can have a shorter name. For example, shoes.com.au could be shoes.au But auDA has decided that businesses with an … open slather and anyone can buy it. “Ask yourself, would I be upset if someone else had the .au version of my existing …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Everyone’s a critic, but small businesses need kindly customers

Everyone’s a critic, but small businesses need kindly customers

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson is urging people to refrain from posting negative online reviews, as short-staffed…

… says. “The best way to support small businesses is to be a kindly customer – patient and understanding, with good … to remove fake reviews. “Our office has assisted more than 30 businesses dealing with fake reviews in recent years,” Mr … to remove fake reviews. “Our office has assisted more than 30 businesses dealing with fake reviews in recent years,” Mr …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

New rules to allow small business tradies to follow the work

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says small business tradespeople will be able to meet the demand for their skills wherever they are in Australia under new laws passed by the Senate.

The Australian…

… Bruce Billson says small business tradespeople will be able to meet the demand for their skills wherever they are … Budget commitment to implementing the scheme, which will be used in part to improve information exchanged between … Bruce Billson says small business tradespeople will be able to meet the demand for their skills wherever they are …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Thriving Indigenous business sector contributing billions to economy

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson is encouraging Australians to support Indigenous businesses, as the nation celebrates NAIDOC WEEK 2021.

Mr Billson says the Indigenous business sector is one of the…

… $4.41 of social return. “Some great examples of this can be seen in ASBFEO’s  Indigenous Success Stories  series, … $4.41 of social return. “Some great examples of this can be seen in ASBFEO’s  Indigenous Success Stories  series, …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Ombudsman congratulates enterprising Western Sydney Women

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has congratulated the winners of the Western Sydney Women Awards, many of whom are outstanding small and family business owners.

The awards, held virtually last night,…

… female role models, which is especially important at a time when two-thirds of new businesses formed are led by … female role models, which is especially important at a time when two-thirds of new businesses formed are led by …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman backs tax report

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has strongly backed a call from the Inspector-General of Taxation for the Australian Taxation Office to more consistently and transparently…

… Taxpayers’ Charter to include an express right to be informed of rights to review, complain and appeal decisions and to be told about all relevant channels to do so.  The … Taxpayers’ Charter to include an express right to be informed of rights to review, complain and appeal …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Franchise Disclosure Registry to help restore confidence in sector

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Bruce Billson has welcomed plans to establish a new mandatory Franchise Disclosure Registry, saying it will provide prospective franchisees with vital information needed prior to…

… agreement. Mr Billson says the national registry, to be released next year, will require franchisors to lodge … about their franchise annually. These documents will be publicly available through the registry. “There is a clear … agreement. “The Franchise Disclosure Registry will be publicly available, to help prospective franchisees …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

ACCC Supermarket Inquiry highlights need for continuing vigilance to support fairness

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Supermarket Inquiry report confirms that the supermarket sector is highly concentrated and unduly challenging for small business suppliers, says the Australian Small Business and Family…

… independent retailers have been losing market share over time. The ASBFEO’s experience accords with the ACCC’s … family business economy back on the right trajectory, to be able to fully realise its potential to contribute to … independent retailers have been losing market share over time. The ASBFEO’s experience accords with the ACCC’s …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Budget continues targeted relief as small businesses hope for recovery

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…

… in ASBFEO’s 14 steps to energise enterprise at this time of a surge in insolvencies, a reduction in the economic … taking on their first employee. “Small business needs to be front of mind for our policy makers and regulators. We … in ASBFEO’s 14 steps to energise enterprise at this time of a surge in insolvencies, a reduction in the economic …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

New protections will blunt ‘too sharp by half’ conduct that harms small businesses

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has enthusiastically welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to introduce protections for small and family businesses harmed by unfair business trading practices. 

…

… into ‘a take it or leave it’ contract they would likely be in breach of the unfair contract terms laws. But by not … into ‘a take it or leave it’ contract they would likely be in breach of the unfair contract terms laws. But by not …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Don't be a 3G switch-off casualty

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Dusty Fitzpatrick.

2BS Bathurst

Subject: Don’t be a 3G switch-off casualty

Dusty Fitzpatrick

The Australian Small…

… Don't be a 3G switch-off casualty 31 May 2024 Australian Small … this afternoon. Bruce, as always, thank you for your time. Bruce Billson Good to be with you Dusty.  … Australian … this afternoon. Bruce, as always, thank you for your time. Bruce Billson Good to be with you Dusty.  … Australian …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Ombudsman welcomes Franchising Code of Conduct Review

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has warmly welcomed the release of the review of the Franchising Code of Conduct by Dr Michael Schaper.

The Ombudsman performs a range of functions under the Franchise…

… the recommendation for a clear statement of purpose to be inserted into the Code to explicitly state why it exists … are advantages in introducing a licence system, it will be important to examine why existing safeguards and better … the Government to consider how a revised Code could be more effectively enforced. “We have proposed the …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Narelle Graham

ABC Radio North and West SA

Subject: internet domain name changes

Narelle Graham

This is information for those of you who have a small business and it's related to any…

… Bruce Good afternoon. Bruce Billson Narelle, fabulous to be with you and your listeners. Narelle Graham Yeah, nice to … wish you'd avoided and to avoid it, it's a little bit of time, a few dollars. Protect your interest, is what I'm … wish you'd avoided and to avoid it, it's a little bit of time, a few dollars. Protect your interest, is what I'm …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Supermarket inquiry, Federal Circuit Court Small Business and Codes List

TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Stephen Cenatiempo.

Radio 2CC Canberra

Subject: Supermarket inquiry, Federal…

… good to talk to you again.  Bruce Billson Steve, happy to be with you and your listeners.  Stephen Cenatiempo This this … sense. Bruce, always good to talk to you. Appreciate your time this morning.  Bruce Billson Thanks, Steve.    … … sense. Bruce, always good to talk to you. Appreciate your time this morning.  Bruce Billson Thanks, Steve.    … …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

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We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, water and community.

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