The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says today’s decision by Australia Post to continue shipping perishable goods across the country will bring joyful relief to small business food producers.

Mr Billson…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has called on Australia Post to defer its plans to stop delivering perishable goods, saying this would be a crushing blow to small business producers.

Mr Billson says…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the new Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business the Hon Stuart Robert MP as announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison today.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says small businesses in regional and remote areas of Australia now have more reasons to digitise, with NBN Co announcing expanded coverage and lower wholesale prices.

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The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the ATO’s decision to turn its small business independent review service into a permanent offering, following a highly successful pilot program.

Mr Billson…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the landmark decision of the Full Federal Court to make ‘a sufficient departure from the norms of acceptable commercial behaviour’ a test of whether conduct is ‘…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the government’s proposed reforms to the Franchising Code of Conduct, including changes specific to the automotive industry.

Under the proposed amendments…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has backed the RBA’s plea to banks to treat small businesses differently to consumers when considering loan applications.

Mr Billson welcomed further scrutiny of small…

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…

Banking services essential to rural and regional small businesses

Banking services are essential to small businesses in rural and regional areas and more should be done to support those impacted by branch closures, the…

Ombudsman welcomes review of Banking Code Compliance Committee

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the final report of the independent review of the Banking Code Compliance…

Mature age workers may help ease staff shortages this festive season

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson is encouraging small and family businesses to welcome applications from all-ages…

Ombudsman welcomes funding for critical small business mental health program

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to renew funding for a…

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…

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Ombudsman launches small business natural disaster preparedness inquiry

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has launched an…

MEDIA STATEMENT

Ombudsman welcomes red tape buster for tradies, licensed workers

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says small business…

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Ombudsman to host feedback sessions in natural disaster-hit areas

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Bruce Billson is set to visit…

Do you have a natural disaster preparedness or resilience story you want to share, or an idea that will assist the small business community?

ASBFEO is inviting small businesses across Australia who have been impacted by natural disaster to…

In a move that has been welcomed by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, South Australia and Victoria will be the first states to implement the Automatic Mutual Recognition Scheme. The scheme removes the…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has thanked the 2,000 small and family businesses which have completed an online survey as part of the Small Business Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Inquiry.…

Access to capital is still a significant barrier to growth for women-led small businesses, according to new research conducted by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s (ASBFEO) office.

An ASBFEO survey of more than 600…

Bruce Billson, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman sat down with Nick Fox, Deloitte’s Payment Times Reporting Lead to discuss the recent release of the first Payment Times Reporting Register.

Below is a summary of the…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has marked Harmony Day (21 March, 2022) by thanking migrant-led small and family businesses for their valuable contribution to the vibrancy of the community and vitality of the…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed today’s Federal Government pre-Budget announcement providing a cash flow support to small and family businesses through changes to PAYG tax and commitment to…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says the Australian Government’s 2022/23 Budget offers welcomed targeted support to Australian small and family businesses.

The Budget includes several new, extended…

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has urged consumers to consciously spend with small and family businesses this weekend, amid predictions of a bumper Easter.

“Small and family businesses stand ready…

It takes quite the chocolatier to create all the magic of Easter – without the bunny.

But that’s what Stuart and his team at Enigma Fine Chocolates have achieved, as customers – eager to indulge in handmade artisan truffles – stream through the…