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…
… Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has been "in the field" every day since it was established in March 2016, working alongside … economic times, more need to know how we can help. At a time when most small businesses are facing many headwinds and … supporting the resolution of a dispute, our assistance can be referral to other support and resources that can help the …
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ASBFEO Live
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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Eddie Williams.
ABC Radio South East NSW
Subjects: Merchant transaction fees (least-cost…
… to reduce the burden both on the small business taking the payment and you, the customer, paying for your long black? … not in the interests of consumers. And it's way past time where the banks have been and should have been actively … Bruce Billson Fab to be with you. Take care. Have a great day. Eddie Williams Bruce Billson, the Australian Small …
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ASBFEO Live
TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.
Radio 2CC Canberra…
… still is alive, Leon, and interestingly I suppose I would be saying a real focus on self-care. I put that to carry your … environment, one that has been a bit challenging for some time with margin squeeze and customers really looking for … seen a higher-than-expected inflation figure the other day. We have seen a lower-than-expected economic growth …
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ASBFEO Live
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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Stephen Cenatiempo.
Radio 2CC…
… and Family Enterprise Ombudsman and joins us now. G’day Bruce. Bruce Billson Steve, morning to you and your … much but I don't think it'll be sneezed at either at a time when small businesses are really struggling. Margin … The average age of a business owner is 50. 8% are under 30. Where's the young people? Used to be 17%. And just last …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in The Canberra Times
By Bruce Billson
Digital tools have transformed the economy and the ways in which we do business.
There's much to be gained for a small or family business deepening its digital engagement.…
… and the ways in which we do business. There's much to be gained for a small or family business deepening its … at lightning speed through e-invoicing, and electronic payment systems allow for that invoice to be paid (hopefully) … support compliance, automate routine tasks and even help time-poor business owners organise their busy lives - so more …
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ASBFEO Live
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,…
… on Radio 2CC Canberra. Subjects: National Family Business Day, small business trading conditions, family business … Bruce, good afternoon. Bruce Billson Leon, great to be with you and your listeners. And what a great day to … a conventional piece of wisdom that I've heard from time to time that you should never lend money to a family …
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ASBFEO Live
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with David Wood on Ultra 106five Hobart.
David Wood
Today is National Family Business Day, and to find out a little bit more about…
… Hobart. David Wood Today is National Family Business Day, and to find out a little bit more about it the … is joining us. Bruce, welcome. Bruce Billson David fab to be with you and your listeners. And what a fab day … And they do this on the dining room table a lot of the time, and the dining room table becomes the boardroom. Bruce …
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ASBFEO Live
… business owners, for whom their business is their full-time livelihood endeavour, are earning less than the average … were twice as many small business owners aged between 30 and 49 as there were aged over 50. Today, only 8% of … paperwork after they’ve been running their business all day, surrendering more time with family and time to reset and …
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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Kerry Peck.
Radio 2BS Bathurst
27 November 2023
…
… television, and we've been talking about it for quite some time. We really do, in this day and age, have to be vitally aware of scams, don't we? … details and if there's any irregularities then hold up the payment. That's a good measure. That's the measure that's …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in The Canberra Times.
By Bruce Billson.
While there can be many joys of small business ownership, small businesses also deal with many potential perils.Access to finance is one of the double-edged levers for small…
… business-to-business disputes ASBFEO assists with involve payment disputes - small businesses just wanting to be paid … cent per year. Daily late payment fees, starting at $100/day, can soon escalate to as much as $1000/day. We have seen … themselves from potential borrowing mishaps, is to take time to verify if a lender is an AFCA member before taking …
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ASBFEO Live
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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Ben Fordham.
2GB Sydney…
… Billson, good morning. Bruce Billson Ben it's fab to be in your aura with your listeners. Ben Fordham Great to … people and 3/4 of those who do that for their full-time livelihood take home less than average weekly wages. So … of stuff small businesses are facing. So today's a big day in the round table, they are talking about red tape Ben, …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, is encouraging all Australians to celebrate National Family Business Day on Thursday 19 September.
“It’s a great moment to reflect on the crucial role family-owned…
… the board table – celebrating National Family Business Day 17 September 2024 The Australian Small Business and … all Australians to celebrate National Family Business Day on Thursday 19 September. “It’s a great moment to reflect … services businesses in your community and often it will be family owned and led. “Some of our most enduring …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, urges all Australians to recognise the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of the people driving our 2.5 million small businesses on World Micro, Small and Medium-sized…
… Help small businesses thrive this MSME Day 26 June 2025 The Australian Small Business and Family … and relentless personal commitment to succeed at a time when many are doing it tough right now. “Our economic … livelihood opportunities and community wellbeing would be so much less without the extraordinary contribution and …
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ASBFEO Live
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…
… Payment Times Reporting Scheme 10 March 2022 Bruce Billson, … Enterprise Ombudsman sat down with Nick Fox, Deloitte’s Payment Times Reporting Lead to discuss the recent release of … positive role played by the Register to help reduce the time it takes to pay small business suppliers Some large …
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ASBFEO Live
… There were 482,836 small businesses in Queensland on 30 June 2023, representing 19% of all Australian small … were 238,907 small businesses in Western Australia on 30 June 2023, representing 9% of all Australian small … were 849,075 small businesses in New South Wales (NSW) on 30 June 2023. These accounted for 34% of all Australian small …
… program. As part of the pilot, these guidelines will be periodically updated. 2. About the small business dispute … in an ADR process to resolve their dispute; the length of time parties have been in dispute and any attempts that they … or as or as otherwise agreed with the small business. 6. Payment Stage 1 Preliminary Advice: A co-payment of $100 is …
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.
Radio 2CC Canberra
Subject: How small business can get help, insolvency concerns, payment times, solving problems with digital…
… How small business can get help, insolvency concerns, payment times, solving problems with digital platform … we are at the Murrumbateman market selling them at market day. But when we're not at the market, we might be promoting … made about talking to a real person, this harkens back 20, 30, 40, years ago, Bruce, when I was banging on the table and …
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ASBFEO Live
TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Stephen Cenatiempo.
Radio 2CC Canberra
Subjects: Insolvency and small business;…
… to close its doors, we've laid out money, we've had staff time, we've made financial commitments and incurred expenses … at night after being everything in the business during the day. So, I think that's a really important conversation we … have been paid by their customer, which then slows up the payment to their small business supplier like we were …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has released a guide to help small business navigate the challenge of paying or collecting a debt.
“Outstanding debts can be overwhelming for a small business – whether…
… of paying or collecting a debt. “Outstanding debts can be overwhelming for a small business – whether you are owed … and this can become worse when they don’t receive a payment they were expecting.” Mr Billson said a first step … days. The delay, well beyond the usual payment terms of 30 days, was having significant flow-on consequences for Mary …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, is urging Federal Parliament to give certainty to small business about two crucial tax breaks announced in last year’s budget.
“Time is running out with just six weeks…
… two crucial tax breaks announced in last year’s budget. “Time is running out with just six weeks until the end of the … to that amount for eligible assets between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. (The Treasurer announced in this week’s budget the scheme would be extended to 30 June 2025.) Without legislation authorising …
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ASBFEO Live
18 October 2024
TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Rick Hind.
ABC Radio Darwin
…
… went to zero for the year and what would happen? It was a time of anxiety, and frankly, didn't amount to much in the … you bought the technology from. I know some of the card payment system providers have been up and about, and you know … client base and just let them know that 28 October is D-Day for 3G. Rick Hind It's been moved before should it be …
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ASBFEO Live
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…
… out not just here but in other places, and we should be concerned. The Washington Post recently posed the … from the start of this Australian Bureau of Statistics time series in July 2007. The latest ABS stats also point to … cashflow concerns, digital impacts, cyber threats, poor payment times and an ever-changing business landscape. …
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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Oly Peterson.
6PR Perth
20 November 2023
…
… Ombudsman and we welcome him back to Perth live. G’day Bruce. Bruce Billson Oly, great to be with you and the … the event that you are compromised? I mean, that's a tough time to work through. It's traumatic for the business. They … invoice to somebody for a big number, like an instalment payment on a house build, and they just get in there and …
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ASBFEO Live
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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.
2CC Radio Canberra
Subject: Small business disaster preparedness.…
… Billson, good afternoon. Bruce Billson Leon, great to be with you and the capital listeners of 2CC. Leon Delaney I … who are also community leaders. So, even in their own time of need, they're often thinking about others, not always … ones. Bruce Billson Tally-ho would be the word of the day! Even with transport operators, we see this. We even saw …
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ASBFEO Live
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has welcomed the significant commitment announced today by the banking industry to better support small businesses to combat scams.
Mr Billson said a $100 million…
… confidence and the ability to operate. Too often, it can be an enterprise-ending event for a small business.” … year. The biggest contributor to these losses were payment redirection scams. Mr Billson said small businesses … Billson said next week is Scam Awareness Week and an ideal time for small business owners to take a few extra moments to …
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ASBFEO Live
… on 1300 650 460. Please note: The ASBFEO may not always be the most appropriate agency to resolve your dispute. We … Societ y offer a free referral service, which includes a 30-minute consultation with a lawyer. Justice Connect helps … it. Belmont Business Enterprise Centre provides a free 30-minute legal advisory session on business matters. Justice …
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24 August 2023
TRANSCRIPT
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Susan Graham-Ryan.
ABC QLD
…
… we had about 17% of our small business owners were under 30. It's 8% at the moment. That's the same across Queensland. … the interests of small and family businesses every day - and part of it is surfacing their story. And that story … pursuits and being a business owner, particularly at a time when you've got difficulty getting staff and the like, …
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ASBFEO Live
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Becc Chave.
ABC Radio SA South East
Subject: 3G switch-off warning for small business
Becc Chave
Australia's 3G…
… 3G networks are closing down. You still got a bit of time before this does start impacting you, but it is important that Australians know if they will be impacted. If you've received notice from your service … stock levels are down and away you go. Some of the card payment tap-on things you see car parks, they've got 3G …
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ASBFEO Live
Originally published in The Canberra Times.
By Bruce Billson.
It is often said small business is the engine room of the economy. We must ensure small and family business can fire on all cylinders - not have a cylinder taken out.
We…
… It's time to celebrate Australia's small businesses 15 April 2024 … for those people. They're working their tails off every day. The narrative about how buoyant profitability is in the … our small business-owning fraternity are under the age of 30, half what it was in the 1970s. We honour and celebrate …
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