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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. 

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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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    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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    • Location of Australia’s small businesses - regional and metro areas

The November 2025 Small Business Pulse is now available

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  • ASBFEO Live (214)

Small business conditions

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Tim Webster.

ABC Radio Sydney

Subjects: Small business conditions, small business help, tips for small businesses using social media platforms,…

… Small business conditions 05 June 2024 Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson … 50 is now the average age, and only about 8% are under the age of 30. Now, back in the '70s, it was 17% were … Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson …

Media Centre item
News
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Insolvency and small business; help for small businesses needing support

TRANSCRIPT

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

Radio 2CC Canberra

Subjects: Insolvency and small business;…

… TRANSCRIPT: Insolvency and small business; help for small businesses needing support 03 April … businesses who are owed money by these businesses that go under. Bruce Billson Yeah, that's the cascading impact of … TRANSCRIPT Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Celebrating World Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, is encouraging Australians to celebrate World Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day on 27 June by saying thank you to small and family businesses for their…

… Celebrating World Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day 25 June 2024 The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, is … over 50. Only 8 per cent of our small business owners are under the age of 30, half what it was in the 1970s.  “Why is …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Small businesses renewal accelerates as owners embrace growth and transformation

Key highlights: ASBFEO Small Business Pulse November 2025

The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse increased by 0.8% in the three months to November 2025 – the third consecutive quarterly increase. It increased 0.5% compared to the same…

… Small businesses renewal accelerates as owners embrace growth … 03 December 2025 Key highlights: ASBFEO Small Business Pulse November 2025 The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse … including penalty rates, casual staff and staff aged under twenty-one. “Concerns about other regulatory …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

August 2025 Small Business Pulse - Cautious optimism amid modest improvements in small business conditions

August 2025

Key highlights:Conditions for small businesses continue to improve. The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse increased by 0.6% in August 2025 – the second consecutive quarterly increase. Over the past 12 months it has increased 0.2%.This…

… August 2025 Small Business Pulse - Cautious optimism amid modest improvements in small business conditions 28 August 2025 August 2025 Key … small business owners can operate multiple businesses under a single business identifier have increased this … August 2025 Key highlights: Conditions for small businesses continue to improve. The ASBFEO Small …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: 2024-25 federal budget, small business mental health in Bathurst, small business procurement

TRANSCRIPT

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

Radio 2BS Bathurst

 

Subjects: 2024-25 federal budget…

… TRANSCRIPT: 2024-25 federal budget, small business mental health in Bathurst, small business … the country. More than half are aged over 50, with only 6% under the age of 30. Now it's about 8% nationally.  But this … TRANSCRIPT Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Small business conditions show modest improvement for first time since 2022

May 2025 Small Business Pulse

Key highlights:

Over the past quarter conditions for small businesses improved 0.1% - the first quarterly rise since August 2022. Over the past 12 months deteriorated by 0.9%, but now…

… Small business conditions show modest improvement for first time since 2022 27 May 2025 May 2025 Small Business Pulse Key highlights: Over the past quarter … May 2025 Small Business Pulse Key highlights: Over the past quarter … Small business conditions show modest improvement for first …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

WHEN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS MEANS TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has urged small business owners to take time early in the new year to take stock of their mental and financial well-being.

“When you own a small business, it is just…

… WHEN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS MEANS TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF 12 January 2023 The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has urged small business owners to take time early in the new year to … The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

2025-26 Federal Budget, instant asset write-off, insolvency, small business conditions

TRANSCRIPT

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

Radio 2CC…

… Federal Budget, instant asset write-off, insolvency, small business conditions 26 March 2025 TRANSCRIPT Australian Small … households who make that courageous decision, Steve, to under insure or maybe not insure at all, you don't get that … TRANSCRIPT Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

SPEECH TO COSBOA NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT

SPEECH

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson.

Speech to COSBOA National Small Business Summit

I particularly want to acknowledge Matthew (Addison), Luke (…

… SPEECH TO COSBOA NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT 04 April 2024 SPEECH Australian Small … Currently 8% of our small business owning fraternity are under the age of 30, half what it was in the 1970s.  70% of … SPEECH Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson. …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Surge in Small Businesses worried about being paid

New figures from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman reveal a 50 per cent jump in requests for help from distressed business owners who are fearful that another business who owes them money has become insolvent or who are…

… Surge in Small Businesses worried about being paid 02 September 2024 New figures from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman reveal a 50 per cent … New figures from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman reveal a 50 …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Help at hand for small businesses

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…

… Help at hand for small businesses 14 April 2025 Originally Published in The … group of passionate people who are carving out small business livelihoods and making significant contributions to … First Nations Australians small business owners are under-represented in the limited data that is available, with …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Opening statement to Senate Estimates

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson opening statement to Senate Estimates

It is often said that small business is the engine room of the economy. We must ensure that small and family business…

… statement to Senate Estimates 04 June 2024 Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson … small business to enforce their rights and seek justice under the laws and protections Parliament has already put in … Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson …

Media Centre item
News
ASBFEO Live

Small businesses can't be held to the same privacy standards

Opinion piece by the Ombudsman Bruce Billson.

Originally published in the Canberra Times.

The public rightly expects any personal information collected and stored by businesses - whether they are large or small - will be protected and only…

… Small businesses can't be held to the same privacy standards … and stored by businesses - whether they are large or small - will be protected and only used for the reasons it was provided. It is not credible for small business to continue to have a blanket exemption from …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Small business is in decline and it's a big deal

Originally published on Kochie's Business Builders

By Bruce Billson

Small business is a big deal, but sadly not as big as it used to be. Yes, it’s still the ‘engine-room’ of the nation, contributing much to our communities, employment…

… Small business is in decline and it's a big deal 11 February 2025 Originally published on Kochie's Business Builders By Bruce Billson Small business is a big deal, but sadly not as big as it used … published on Kochie's Business Builders By Bruce Billson Small business is a big deal, but sadly not as big as it used …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

14 steps to energise enterprise

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Nadia Mitsopoulos.

ABC Radio WA

Subject: 14 Steps to energise enterprise, small business conditions, family business succession, lowering…

… 14 steps to energise enterprise 13 August 2024 Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson … as well. There's only 8% of current small business owners under the age of 30, yet in the ‘70s, it was 17%. So … Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Right-sized regulation for small businesses will boost productivity

Published in the Canberra Times.

Of the businesses in Australia, 97 per cent of them are small businesses.Small businesses generate nearly $600 billion of economic activity accounting for 32 per cent of our nation's GDP and provide jobs for 5.17…

… Right-sized regulation for small businesses will boost productivity 29 September 2025 … . Of the businesses in Australia, 97 per cent of them are small businesses.Small businesses generate nearly $600 … past, the economic and employment contribution of small business was much larger, and I'm optimistic that it can be …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

What happens when builders go bust

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…

… latest report card on the economy will be no surprise to small business owners. Economic growth is barely limping along. The … and 13 interest rate rises are taking their toll on small and family businesses. Over the past year, there's been … latest report card on the economy will be no surprise to small business owners. Economic growth is barely limping …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Awareness is not enough, and a fatalistic attitude to risks will only make things worse

Originally published in The Canberra Times

By Bruce Billson

Welcome to Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time to remind ourselves of the steps we can take to prevent an unwelcome cyber event that can be highly damaging to small and family-…

… an unwelcome cyber event that can be highly damaging to small and family-owned businesses. The many activities over … to maximise protection. Just like we wouldn't leave our business premises empty overnight with the doors open, lights … embrace cyber safeguards. This awareness month needs to be Small Business Cyber Security Action Month, where we take …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

We need to keep putting wind in the sails of our enterprising women and men

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…

… in The Canberra Times By Bruce Billson As we return to business as usual after the election, I am hopeful that the … government will have a very strong and prominent focus on small and family businesses. It is urgent and necessary. This … impacted the "business of running a business" for small business owners. The risk-reward balance has tilted …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

BIG BUSINESSES URGED TO “LIFT THEIR GAME” ON PAYMENT TIMES

Only three out of 10 big businesses pay their small business customers within 30 days while nearly one-quarter take more than 120 days to pay up, according to new payment times data.

“This is a woeful performance and is bitterly disappointing…

… 2023 Only three out of 10 big businesses pay their small business customers within 30 days while nearly one-quarter … woeful performance and is bitterly disappointing news for small and family businesses to start the year,” said the … Only three out of 10 big businesses pay their small business customers within 30 days while nearly …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

I fear we are sleepwalking into a 'big corporate' economy

Originally published in the Canberra Times

By Bruce Billson

We need to do more to support small and family businesses. These enterprises, and the driven and courageous women and men that lead them, are the engine-room of our economy…

… Times By Bruce Billson We need to do more to support small and family businesses. These enterprises, and the … And we need to celebrate the contribution of small business to our nation. Combined, these smaller firms … in a timely way and pay small business suppliers in under 21 days, with a "Good Business Pays" recognition and …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

National FBD, family business succession issues and more

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney on Radio 2CC Canberra.

Subjects: National Family Business Day, small business trading conditions, family business succession issues,…

… National FBD, family business succession issues and more 19 September 2024 Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson … 2CC Canberra. Subjects: National Family Business Day, small business trading conditions, family business succession …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Checking the pulse of small businesses across Australia

Opinion piece by the Ombudsman Bruce Billson.

Originally published in the Canberra Times.

Small business is the beating heart of our communities and our economy, so it is crucial to check the pulse of such an important sector to measure its…

… Checking the pulse of small businesses across Australia 05 August 2024 Opinion … Bruce Billson. Originally published in the Canberra Times. Small business is the beating heart of our communities and our … Bruce Billson. Originally published in the Canberra Times. Small business is the beating heart of our communities and …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Cyber security tips for small business

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Tim Webster.

ABC Radio Sydney

Subjects: ransomware attacks on small business, cyber security tips for small business, insolvency concerns,…

… Cyber security tips for small business 31 July 2024 Australian Small Business and Family … increase in payment disputes even when work is carried out under the contract or the terms that were agreed. Just … Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Natural disaster preparation and checklists for small business

TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.

Radio 2CC Canberra

Subjects: How small business can prepare for a…

… TRANSCRIPT: Natural disaster preparation and checklists for small business 19 February 2024 TRANSCRIPT Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson … TRANSCRIPT Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

ASBFEO helps over 50,000 small and family businesses

Originally published in The Canberra Times

By Bruce Billson

The "dirty boots people" is what one of Australian's leading economic regulators calls us. The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has been "in the…

… ASBFEO helps over 50,000 small and family businesses 20 January 2025 Originally … leading economic regulators calls us. The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has been … remains true, as it did at the time the ASBFEO was created under a decade ago, that in so many cases, the courts are no …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

A barely noticeable improvement may signal the worst is behind us

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…

… Times By Bruce Billson ASBFEO recently released our fourth Small Business Pulse - a health-check on the small business operating environment. It recorded a … Times By Bruce Billson ASBFEO recently released our fourth Small Business Pulse - a health-check on the small business …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

14 steps to stop small business's alarming downward spiral

Opinion piece by the Ombudsman Bruce Billson.

Originally published in the Canberra Times.

I fear we are sleepwalking into a "big corporate" economy.

Many small and family businesses are doing it tough right now and the post-COVID…

… 14 steps to stop small business's alarming downward spiral 08 August 2024 Opinion … in a timely way and pay small business suppliers in under 21 days, with a 'Good Business Pays' recognition and … we are sleepwalking into a "big corporate" economy. Many small and family businesses are doing it tough right now and …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Small business worth more than half a trillion dollars to the Australian economy

The economic contribution of small business to the Australian economy has topped half a trillion dollars, according to a report released today by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson.

The value of small…

… Small business worth more than half a trillion dollars to the … economy 26 June 2023 The economic contribution of small business to the Australian economy has topped half a … climbing. Just 8 per cent of small business owners are under 30. That’s half the peak for this age group of 17 per …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

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Acknowledgement of Country

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

We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past, present and emerging.

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