TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Casey Briggs.
ABC TV News Channel
Subjects: Small business problems…
… about what they can do to help. But in the end of the day, Casey, the back swing might be nice. It's all about the … processes - the test is what actually happens. And by the time people get to us, they are frustrated beyond belief and … is just the start of it, and there are matters such as payment for ad spends or where other customers on your …
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ASBFEO Live
Australia’s small business owners are rapidly getting older as the proportion of younger entrepreneurs shrinks, according to research from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.
Ombudsman Bruce Billson said the most…
… actually twice as many small business owners aged between 30 and 49 as there were aged over 50,” Mr Billson said. “The … with only 8 per cent of small business owners aged under 30. It is half the peak for this age group of 17 per cent … understand why it is not as appealing as it perhaps should be for younger Australians to own a small business?” More …
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The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the banks’ ongoing efforts to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns.
The Australian Banking Association says banks will defer loan…
… valued and is the kind of a key support element that could be incorporated into an agreed predictable and known national … in good standing with repayments up-to-date or there’s a payment program in place. “It’s encouraging to see our banks … in good standing with repayments up-to-date or there’s a payment program in place. “It’s encouraging to see our banks …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in The Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
Justice. The word itself carries weight. It has responsibility. It implies things will be fair, and if wronged, justice will serve, and things will be right.
But for many…
… weight. It has responsibility. It implies things will be fair, and if wronged, justice will serve, and things will be right. But for many small businesses, access to justice … wronged. On top of the mental anguish and distress and time taken away from running the business, the cost and …
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ASBFEO Live
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Eddie Williams.
ABC Radio South-East NSW
Subject: rising cost of small business insurance
Eddie Williams
Insurance…
… business at the moment? Bruce Billson Eddie, good to be with you and your listeners. It's having an enormous … events is really being challenged at the present time. But I suppose the other point too, which is a little … action stations everywhere and that sometimes is not the time to be really planning for those sorts of events. You're …
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ASBFEO Live
TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.
2CC Radio Canberra
Subject: Creating a Small Business and Codes List…
… Leon, sometimes those dark clouds for a small business can be another business treating them appallingly and in some … know, duelling with the other expert and burns up costs, time and resources and doesn't get you anywhere near an early … case. Leon Delaney Bruce, thanks very much for your time today. …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says tonight’s federal Budget offers targeted measures to help small and family business deal with current pain points and headwinds.
“Small and family businesses facing…
… community. “Matching last year’s Budget, the money will be deducted from the power bills of one million eligible … It is vitally important that small business owners take time to focus on their own mental and financial wellbeing and … improve the uptake of eInvoicing, the effectiveness of the payment times reporting framework and implementation of …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, acknowledges the public release and response by the Australian Government of his inquiry into the effectiveness of Commonwealth procurement rules for small businesses.
…
… opportunity for competitive small and family businesses to be a supplier to the Commonwealth”. “Winning a government … are looking for to engage in a complicated, costly and time-consuming process. “Dismissing considered and … boosting women-owned business opportunities and improving payment times. ASBFEO is encouraged by the Government’s …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has released a guide to raise awareness among small businesses selling online about United States’ copyright laws that can shut down their access to customers without warning…
… Australian small business selling online warned to be aware of US copyright laws 09 October 2024 The Australian … been issued against an Australian homewares business every time they advertised. That led to Shopify shutting down their store each time until it was resolved, but that caused the Australian …
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ASBFEO Live
Many small businesses say they feel excluded from the chance to tender for Australian Government procurement contracts because they are not part of the ‘in-crowd’ or find the process too hard to navigate, says the Australian Small Business and Family…
… government for procurement and where things might be improved. “Equally, we’re keen to hear examples of … like to but do not. “Winning a government contract can be life-changing for a small business. As all businesses … businesses also point to the high cost and investment of time required to tender, and lack of consideration of this …
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ASBFEO Live
15 October 2024
TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Annie Guest.
ABC Radio AM Program
…
… had a big scare. John Toomey (small business owner) One day I found myself locked out of Facebook, I couldn't get in. … Bruce Billson This is 86 per cent higher than the same time last year for disputes involving one of these Big Tech … were about Meta, 17 per cent were directed at Uber for payment problems. So, the Small Business Ombudsman is calling …
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ASBFEO Live
New support announced today by the Australian Government to help small businesses combat cyber attacks is extremely welcome, says the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson.
“One of the biggest fears a…
… the biggest fears a small business has is that they will be targeted and wiped out by a cyber attack and we are … support we have advocated for to assist small business to be as prepared as they can be by providing a free check on … their digital infrastructure and the criminals demand a payment for to access your own information.” Mr Billson …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in the Canberra Times.
By Bruce Billson.
I was shocked, but sadly not surprised, to read recently that one in five small businesses have zero cash reserves.
About 18 per cent have less than a month's worth of cash…
… The drain on resources during the establishment phase can be too much. The early years for a new business can be the … 17 per cent of business owners were under the age of 30, but that's down to 8 per cent. CPA Australia's … or their own enterprise as a pathway for the future? At a time when young people, particularly, look for purpose as …
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ASBFEO Live
TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.
…
… good afternoon. Bruce Billson Look, Leon, it's great to be with you. I'm glad you're not asking me to sing, but I'm … concern about small businesses feeling more of their time and a heavyweight rests on them over the business of … go, I know about modern slavery – that's what I do every day, try to earn a crust and support my team and keep my head …
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ASBFEO Live
Digital marketing can be vital to the success of a small business yet one-in-three end up in a dispute with their provider, according to new research.
And almost 70% of small businesses last fewer than 12 months with the digital marketing…
… DIGITAL MARKETING 17 January 2024 Digital marketing can be vital to the success of a small business yet one-in-three … “But for too many small businesses this relationship can be unsatisfactory, and for one-in-three it ends in a dispute. … business and a digital marketing provider. “There needs to be clear and honest communication about budget, the exact …
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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Gary Adshead.
Radio 6PR Perth
Subject: Ombudsman’s guide for small business - using social media securely
Gary Adshead…
… and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, and he joins me now. G’day Bruce. Bruce Billson Gary, fab to be with you and your listeners? Gary Adshead Can you tell … get a call from my bank saying, Bruce, we've blocked this payment. Do you know who they are? I said, they seem to be a …
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ASBFEO Live
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…
… that are first used or installed ready for use by June 30, 2026. While this is a very positive step, small … safeguards. Broad consultation with small businesses will be important to ensure that the proposed banning of … about a renewed effort to boost productivity will be welcome by small businesses as productivity improvement …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in the Canberra Times.
Finding adequate insurance cover at commercially viable terms is fast becoming a wicked challenge for small and family businesses.
There have been countless examples of small businesses closing…
… Unlike households who - for many reasons - might choose to be uninsured or underinsured and have options about the level … particularly in regional Australia. Crucially, a DMF would be able to impose conditions of entry standards for members … vital business precondition, is no longer a once-a-year payment (with a likely inevitable modest price increase) that …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in The Daily Telegraph
By Bruce Billson
This sector makes up 98 per cent of Australian businesses, so why is it under-represented at the upcoming economic roundtable? It cannot merely be an afterthought, writes Bruce…
… at the upcoming economic roundtable? It cannot merely be an afterthought, writes Bruce Billson. Only a few more … sleep wondering about what might happen at the three-day event. Too many though, are losing sleep over concerns … owners making decisions and weighing up choices every day, any focus on improving the economic climate and …
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ASBFEO Live
Opinion piece by the Ombudsman Bruce Billson.
Originally published in the Daily Telegraph.
Small business is a big deal. But not as big as it used to be. Economic contribution has dropped from 40 per cent to 33 per cent since 2006 and share…
… Small business is a big deal. But not as big as it used to be. Economic contribution has dropped from 40 per cent to 33 … sleepwalking towards a big corporate economy. At the same time, insolvencies are at a record high. The Tax office, hot … owner is now 50 and only 8 per cent are under the age of 30, half what it was in the 1970s. It is in our national …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in the Canberra Times.
By Bruce Billson.
The latest report card on the economy will be no surprise to small business owners. Economic growth is barely limping along.
The combination of…
… Bruce Billson. The latest report card on the economy will be no surprise to small business owners. Economic growth is … they do business with - who might owe them money or worse be on the verge of insolvency. Requests for help from small … are earning less than the average total weekly, full-time earnings. I can't stress enough the importance for a …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in The Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
The government's Economic Reform Roundtable kicks off tomorrow, and I am optimistic that real outcomes with positive and lasting impact on small and family businesses are in reach…
… small and family businesses are in reach. And they need to be. Operating conditions have been tough for small businesses … and aspirations of small and family businesses to be heard and at the front of mind, and not just over the next … itself. It will serve our nation well. The roundtable will be very worthwhile if all the impressive delegates have small …
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ASBFEO Live
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.
Radio 2CC Canberra
Subject: 3G shutdown to affect small, family and farming businesses
Leon Delaney
…
… and lots of pieces of business equipment that might well be caught up in the phase out of 3G. Joining me now, the … Billson. Good afternoon. Bruce Billson Leon, great to be with you and your listeners. Leon Delaney Thanks for … you're counting on them to work, and all of a sudden, the day after October 28 they don't happen, that can come as a …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has welcomed the expansion of subsidised legal advice for eligible small and family businesses to support more effective engagement in dispute resolution processes.
The…
… commercial matters, particularly where industry codes may be involved. ‘It is pleasing that the Government has expanded … and empowering this kind of low-cost legal advice can be for an unrepresentative small business disputing a tax … 2016, ASBFEO has helped over 50,000 small businesses. At a time when most small businesses are facing many headwinds, I …
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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Nadia Mitsopoulos.
ABC Radio Perth
Subject: Future of cash
…
… are fronting up to local businesses, expecting them to be the automatic teller machine, to cough up some cash … reasonably available bank branch, is not just about the day-to-day transactions. It’s also where they go to get advice … reasonably available bank branch, is not just about the day-to-day transactions. It’s also where they go to get …
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ASBFEO Live
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…
… business is busy this Easter – the first in two years to be uninhibited by pandemic related restrictions in trading … business is busy this Easter – the first in two years to be uninhibited by pandemic related restrictions in trading …
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Case study
ASBFEO Live
Originally published in The Daily Telegraph
By Bruce Billson.
Banking is an essential service with a privileged position in the economy, and our small, family and farming businesses depend on having a close and reliable…
… ATMs in just the past two years, according to APRA. Some 30 per cent of small businesses are based in regional Australia and when the bank leaves it can be devastating. Access to cash and deposit services are … I met a rural accountant who has a client that had a payment for $60,000 intercepted by the invoice substitution …
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ASBFEO Live
In this video Ombudsman Bruce Billson discusses the role of our office.
Are you a small or family business owner in Australia, experiencing a dispute with another business or government agency? We're here to help. See our …
… provided a fantastic foundation. A foundation to help us be the best allies small businesses could hope for. Working … for where businesses have a matter that needs to be resolved done through dispute resolution, so that those … family enterprises are facing. In the action that would be helpful in supporting your success. We're also there to …
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ASBFEO Live
TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Stephen Cenatiempo.
Radio 2CC Canberra
Subject: Budget 2024-25
…
… a little bit in there. I don’t think small businesses will be punching the air with excitement, thinking that it's a … and there's lots of livelihoods counting on them. That can be overwhelming and the New Access to Small Business Owners … Bruce, always good to talk to you. Thanks for your time this morning. Bruce Billson Thanks Steve. Best wishes …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in Convenience World's November 2025 edition.
By Bruce Billson.
Justice. The word itself carries weight. It has responsibility. It implies things will be fair and if wronged, justice will serve and things will be right…
… weight. It has responsibility. It implies things will be fair and if wronged, justice will serve and things will be right. But for many small businesses, access to justice … wronged. On top of the mental anguish and distress and time taken away from running the business, the cost and …
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ASBFEO Live