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    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 November 2025 Small Business Pulse is now available

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Let's boost small and family businesses

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

Radio 2CC Canberra

Subject: 14 Steps to energise enterprise to boost small and family businesses

Leon Delaney…

… of all operating businesses, we're not at that all time high. We're about a bit over 0.3% at the moment. About … where you've got to be at 4:27, on a glorious Canberra day, and have a left-handed person say you don't want to renew in the next 30 seconds, otherwise it's deemed to roll over for another 12 …

Media Centre item
Transcript
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…

… with World Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day on 27 June. The report also shows that Australia’s 2.5 … owner is a self-employed man, aged 50, who works full-time and earns below the average full-time wage. But the … Just 8 per cent of small business owners are under 30. That’s half the peak for this age group of 17 per cent …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

… agreement may request mediation for a dispute that cannot be resolved via the agreement’s internal procedures. The … manage independently. The mediator will decide the date, time, and place that the mediation will take place and the … you of their costs. In general, the mediator has a half-day rate and a full-day rate, with the length of time for the …

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…

… 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, … which is a record low rate from the start of this ABS time series on 1 July 2007.  The latest ABS stats also point … cashflow concerns, digital impacts, cyber threats, poor payment times and an ever-changing business landscape. …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

… The franchisee claimed they had not received enough payment from the franchisor, as the payments did not cover … Uber to his own bank account. These issues continued over time and meant that he was unable to access his payments.  … with Uber to rectify the issue, ensuring payments could be transferred. The Uber driver was relieved to receive all …

Inspiring people to start their own business

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

Subject: Inspiring people to start their own business, creating Prime Minister’s Small Business Awards, right-…

… Inspiring people to start their own business 30 September 2024 Australian Small Business and Family … over the hours I work, but I might be working later in the day, or having some early starts. Or, as some others, about … of our business community, it's far less than it was at a time when we see the average business owner is around the age …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

3G switch-off warning for small, family and farming businesses

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Oliver Peterson.

Radio 6PR Perth

Subject: 3G switch-off warning for small, family and farming businesses

Oliver Peterson…

… is turning it off at the end of next month. Optus a day later on the 1st of September. Vodafone's already turned … phone network. There's a bunch of other systems that may be using the 3G network, which particularly for small … or you've got an EFTPOS machine you've had for a long time, or you might go to the Bunbury Fair and sell miniature …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

The big shutdown is coming, be ready

Published in The Daily Telegraph and the Courier-Mail.

By Bruce Billson 

Next Monday (October 28) is D-Day for the 3G network as it will be shut down, but I'm worried it could also put many small, family and farming businesses out of…

… The big shutdown is coming, be ready 23 October 2024 Published in The Daily Telegraph and … By Bruce Billson  Next Monday (October 28) is D-Day for the 3G network as it will be shut down, but I'm … they may face. It would be terrible if the first time you learn it runs on 3G is when it shuts down, and that …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

OMBUDSMAN SUPPORTS ‘RIGHT-SIZED’ PRIVACY CHANGES FOR SMALL BUSINESS

The public rightly expects any personal information collected and stored by businesses - whether they are large or small - will be protected, says the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson. 

Mr. Billson…

… by businesses - whether they are large or small - will be protected, says the Australian Small Business and Family … acknowledgment of the special circumstances and limited time and resources of small business and that the exemption … reforms around cyber risk management, Digital ID, payment times, deepening the digital engagement of small …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Energising enterprise

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Julie-anne Sprague.

Radio 6PR Perth

Subject: 14 Steps to energise enterprise

Julie-anne Sprague

There is a worrying…

… me to find out why and how. Bruce Billson himself, Bruce G'day. Bruce Billson Jules, fab to be with you and your … 8 per cent of business owners that are under the age of 30, whereas in the ‘70s, it was twice that.  So, something's … to business operators, that the burden has increased over time, and we need to look at that. But then you have an …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Small business key to lifting living standards and economic resilience

Originally posted in the Canberra Times

It is pleasing to see so much recent attention on what is needed to bolster our economic resilience and to restore living standards at a time of uncertainty and disruption. International economic…

… economic resilience and to restore living standards at a time of uncertainty and disruption. International economic … Yet, in political corridors, productivity tends to be talked about quietly (if at all), and rarely raised as a … of creating a business, reach for these goals every day. Not just when the going is good and conditions are …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 primary legislation amendments

… Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 primary legislation … amendments Date Wed, 05/01/2024 - 12:00 File SB 240429 Payment Times Legislation Amendments.pdf pdf 164.2 KB Summary Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 primary legislation … Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 primary legislation …

Submission

Too many small businesses are hurt by not being in the 'in-crowd'

Originally published in the Canberra Times on Monday, 27 May 2024.

Bruce Billson

Winning a government contract can be life-changing for a small business. As all businesses know, there is no substitute for good…

… May 2024. Bruce Billson Winning a government contract can be life-changing for a small business. As all businesses … are looking for to engage in a complicated, costly and time-consuming process. Dismissing considered and … boost women-owned business opportunities and improve payment times. We found active stewardship is essential to …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
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…

… and the unseen 'business of running the business' can be physically, mentally and financially exhausting. That's … terms of their spending, preferences and confidence. The time-series for the Pulse covers the past eight years and has … increased, although they remain below pre-pandemic levels. Payment disputes are often an early warning sign of cash flow …

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…

… is showing some modest signs that conditions seem to be stabilising. It shows that small and family business … seeing increasing numbers of requests for assistance with payment disputes. This type of dispute, that often leaves a … without productivity improvement is somehow helpful, at a time too many small business owners are battling to keep the …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

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

… on numbers and locations. Key findings for the year to 30 June 2023 Of the 2.5 million small businesses in … and external Other Territories. Victoria’s decrease can be attributed to a decrease in the number of small businesses … (3.3%) and Greater Hobart (3.0%) over the year to 30 June 2023. The main contributors to these increases were …

Basic page

… or your favourite winemaker or café owner who work every day to delight customers and energise enterprise. These are … owner is a self-employed man, aged 50, who works full-time and earns below the average full-time wage. Yet that is … climbing. Just 8% of small business owners are under 30. That’s half the peak for this age group of 17% achieved …

Big tech laziness is hurting small Australian businesses

Originally published in The Canberra Times.

Digital platforms have fundamentally changed the way small businesses connect and sell to their customers. Yet, when there is a problem - such as having your account shut down after being hacked -…

… your account shut down after being hacked - solving it can be a nightmare. Whether it is Facebook, Instagram, Uber, … cases, when there is a problem these platforms require a time and resource-poor small business to navigate the most … turn ads on or off and can remove or update advertising payment information. Have your account/s set up so the …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Women owned small business

Originally published in The Canberra Times

By Bruce Billson

More and more women are creating new businesses to find solutions to everyday problems.

About 35 per cent of small businesses are owned or led by women.

This is double…

… that 68 per cent of self-employed females are working part-time, compared to 47 per cent of female employees in the … the pressures that entrepreneurial women deal with every day. Where is the question about childcare and employee share … told that they needed a male on the application form to be approved. We have taken some strides since the 1950s but …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

… which traditional sources of information and point-in-time surveys often miss. “Our approach is different to other … experiences of the business life-cycle, and in near real time. “The ASBFEO Pulse probes factors which range from … and general economic conditions including disputes. “The time-series for the Pulse covers the past eight years and has …

… the amount per month, not realising this meant that each time she altered the amount per month she was entering into a … a quote for several hundred dollars per month. On the same day, after discussing it with her business partner, she … pay system. The small business owner also used this same payment system for her security alarm. Three years later the …

Least Cost Routing

… fees’ are charged by schemes, acquirers, and issuers (payment service providers) to facilitate card-based payments … competition in the debit card market by ensuring a payment is processed via the least-cost route. Merchants … of the RBA’s public interest powers. This change will be a positive step towards reducing merchant fees for mobile …

Report

TRANSCRIPT: growing number of small business disputes with big tech digital platform providers, Ghostbusters, John McEnroe, weaponised product takedowns and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

 15 October 2024

TRANSCRIPT

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

Radio 2CC Canberra

 

…

… you before, Bruce, but many, many, many years ago, I think 30 years ago, I came up with this idea when recorded phone … McEnroe is.  Leon Delaney He was the Nick Kyrgios of his day.  Bruce Billson What great documentary about him and his … - they might also tap into a credit card or some other payment facility you have linked to your account that helps …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Small business insurance crisis

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

Radio 2CC Canberra

 

Leon Delaney

The Australian Small…

… Billson, good afternoon.  Bruce Billson Leon, great to be with you and your listeners on this glorious capital day.  Leon Delaney It's a beautiful day today, isn't it? It's absolutely a cracker. Now I've got … to be with you and your listeners on this glorious capital day.  Leon Delaney It's a beautiful day today, isn't it? It's …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: COSBOA Summit, energising enterprise

TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Deb Knight.

Money News

Subjects: COSBOA Summit, energising enterprise

…

… welcome back to Money News. Bruce Billson Deb, great to be with you and your enterprising audience.  Deb Knight Yes, … is held every year by COSBOA, but these would have to be some of the most challenging times wouldn’t they for small … only 8% of business owners that are under the age of 30. It was nearly twice that in the ‘70s. So, something is …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Celebrating Australia's great family businesses

This week we celebrate National Family Business Day - on Thursday, September 19.

It's a great moment to reflect on the crucial role family-owned businesses play in the economy and throughout our communities.

Think about the many farming,…

… 2024 This week we celebrate National Family Business Day - on Thursday, September 19. It's a great moment to … services businesses in your community and often it will be family-owned and led. Some of our most enduring businesses … added layer of emotion. What if one of the offspring takes time away from the family business to gain experiences that …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
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 22 July 2024 Opinion … Mark Dreyfus of the special circumstances and limited time and resources of small business, the need for support … with this after they've been running their business all day. Small businesses will need clear guidance on the active …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Apprentices and Trainees Employed by Small Business

… December 2023. This was a 8% decrease compared to the same time the previous year, and a 5% decrease compared to … Sep-09 28.00 23.00 25.00 Dec-09 29.00 23.00 26.00 Mar-10 30.00 24.00 26.00 Jun-10 31.00 24.00 27.00 Sep-10 31.00 25.00 … Dec-11 33.00 28.00 32.00 Mar-12 32.00 28.00 33.00 Jun-12 30.00 29.00 35.00 Sep-12 31.00 29.00 34.00 Dec-12 31.00 28.00 …

Basic page

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…

… electricity, insurance and rent. And there continues to be ongoing shortages of talent and skills with lower rates of … from the Privacy Act. Together, it is taking a toll on time-poor and resource-constrained small business owners. The … workplace obligations to employees, meet tax reporting and payment obligations in a timely way and pay small business …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

… which traditional sources of information and point-in-time surveys often miss. The Pulse was constructed in line … as they become available while maintaining a reliable time series. The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse is a composite … which traditional sources of information and point-in-time surveys often miss. The Pulse was constructed in line …

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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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