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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 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.

    We have compiled these supports for you, relevant to your interests and needs, to help your business succeed.  

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    Connect with us and keep up with our latest news, media releases, social media, successes and policy and advocacy work. 

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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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Small Business Pulse - February 2025

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Success story type

TRANSCRIPT: Franchising Code of Conduct Review

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

Subject: Franchising Code of Conduct Review

Leon DelaneyThe Small Business and…

… in your press release today you say that you support the report and the majority of the sensible recommendations. Does … the headquarters. Is that sort of thing dealt with in this report?  Bruce Billson  No, that's been dealt with through … to be.  Leon Delaney   Well, one of the things that this report does recommend is an expansion of the powers of your …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: 2023-24 Federal Budget and small business

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson discusses the 2023-24 Federal Budget and small business with Selina Green on ABC Radio SA South East.

Selina Green 

Small businesses have…

… those small businesses that are a bit behind on their tax bill as well.  Bruce Billson  Where there's more flex if a … those small businesses that are a bit behind on their tax bill as well.  Bruce Billson  Where there's more flex if a …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

The stress of running a business doesn't vanish at closing time

Originally published in The Canberra Times

By Bruce Billson

This is a big time of year with lots going on. Reflecting on the year passed, catching up with those near and dear and perhaps setting some goals for the year ahead.

For…

… time 06 January 2025 Originally published in The Canberra Times By Bruce Billson This is a big time of year with lots … friends or family, being unable to pay an energy or phone bill, being late meeting mortgage, rent, car registration or … regularly taking the work of the business home and setting times to turn off the tech Allowing for short breaks, hobbies …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

3G switch-off warning for small business

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…

… stock levels are down and away you go. Some of the card payment tap-on things you see car parks, they've got 3G … reports that $500, $600, possibly more, to replace those payment tap-and-go systems, yet the things that they're … stock levels are down and away you go. Some of the card payment tap-on things you see car parks, they've got 3G …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

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

 

…

… - they might also tap into a credit card or some other payment facility you have linked to your account that helps … - 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: AgQuip, small farming business issues, small business owners getting older

 TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Paul Turton.

ABC NSW

 

Subject: AgQuip, small farming…

 TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Paul Turton.

ABC NSW

 

Subject: AgQuip, small farming…

Media Centre item
Transcript
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…

… onto something there, but what we’re not onto is great times for small and family businesses. There’s plenty of … onto something there, but what we’re not onto is great times for small and family businesses. There’s plenty of …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Making the ecosystem more supportive for small business

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Lisa Millar.

ABC News Breakfast

Subject: 14 Steps to energise enterprise, tap-and-go merchant fees, digital platform disputes, small business…

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Lisa Millar.

ABC News Breakfast

Subject: 14 Steps to energise enterprise, tap-and-go merchant fees, digital platform disputes, small business…

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS – TIME’S UP FOR BIG BUSINESS TO PAY

Almost one in four big businesses take more than 120 days to pay their small business suppliers, according to new analysis using data from the Payment Times Reporting Regulator.

The information reported by big business also reveals those…

… suppliers, according to new analysis using data from the Payment Times Reporting Regulator. The information reported by big … and achievable measure is to get serious about improving payment performance to small business.” The analysis of the …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Internet domain name changes

TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Sarah Howells.

ABC Sunshine Coast

8 September 2022…

… a look at the BSP and the account number. They pay the bill and then shortly after that, that supplier is saying, … a look at the BSP and the account number. They pay the bill and then shortly after that, that supplier is saying, …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Small business owners getting older, AgQuip

 24 August 2023

TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Susan Graham-Ryan.

ABC QLD

 

…

… is 50. And with the launch of the Intergenerational Report today, the population is aging and those business … really what young people are looking for? Has the economic times, and, you’d know across your listening audience how … petty crimes. You know, maybe that reflects the economic times, but losing livestock, having assets pinched, someone …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

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

Radio 6PR Perth

Subject: internet domain name changes

Oliver Peterson

You’re being warned if you're a small business owner and for that matter, if you go to a website,…

… domain name. Would you like to buy it off me’ for many times the sticker price of what it would cost if you … domain name. Would you like to buy it off me’ for many times the sticker price of what it would cost if you …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Small Business Matters

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

ABC Radio Perth

26 June 2023

Subject: Small Business Matters…

… people taking up small business? I mean, because I guess times are very different. Do you have any idea as to why … Another allied piece of work we've been doing is around payment times - another example where too often small … Another allied piece of work we've been doing is around payment times - another example where too often small …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

SMALL BUSINESS INSOLVENCY LAWS NEED OVERHAUL

Small businesses should have better access to ‘debt hibernation’ instead of being made insolvent when they face a crisis beyond their control, so they are better able to pursue a credible restructure, save jobs and rebuild, according to the Australian…

… of asset fire-sales, noting liquidators get paid three times as much to shut down a business as they do to save it. … corporate insolvencies in 2021-22, following 4,235 in 2020-21. In the year prior to the pandemic, there were 8,105 … of asset fire-sales, noting liquidators get paid three times as much to shut down a business as they do to save it. …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Paying on time tricky business (Op-ed)

By Bruce Billson

Originally published in the Herald Sun.

At a time when small and family businesses face headwinds, it’s not too much to ask that their big business customers play their parts by paying their invoices in a more…

… of the assistance cases raised with my office relate to payment times, and it's pleasing the Australian government has appointed former minister Craig Emerson to review the Payment Times Reporting Scheme introduced by the former …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Ombudsman’s final report finds ‘Show Must Go On’ despite insurance crisis

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has today released the final report into the insurance crisis facing Australia’s amusement, leisure, and recreation sector, declaring “the show must go on”.

The…

… Ombudsman’s final report finds ‘Show Must Go On’ despite insurance crisis 06 … Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has today released the final report into the insurance crisis facing Australia’s … recreation sector, declaring “the show must go on”. The report, The Show Must Go On , finds a Discretionary Mutual …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Visit to South East Field Days, role of ASBFEO, dispute resolution services, women entrepreneurs, insolvency reform, current challenges and opportunities for small businesses.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson extract of interview with Selina Green.

ABC SA South East live from Lucindale

Subject: Visit to South East Field…

… of of different experiences and journeys. And and at times that's tough for government. They might want to think, … hire finance business, someone's got a harvester on payment terms or it might be even the tax office - wanting … saddlebag from deferred rents. You might have been on a payment plan with the Tax Office, your financier or your …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Matt Bamford

ABC Radio PM Program

Subject: internet domain name changes

Presenter

Domain names are the Internet's version of a home address, directing users to a website's front…

… of cyber security this has been a tactic used to cut off payment information. Matt Bamford Buying up popular domain … Brisbane business owner Alistair Roe ending Matt Bamford's report. … ABC Radio PM Program Subject: internet domain name … of cyber security this has been a tactic used to cut off payment information. Matt Bamford Buying up popular domain …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Don't overlook July 1 changes

An increase in the national wage and higher superannuation payments are among a raft of changes starting on July 1 that small and family businesses must be aware of, says Bruce Billson, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.…

… Government Agencies & eInvoicing From January 1, 2020, Commonwealth agencies capable of receiving Peppol … July 1, 2022, and the business will no longer have to report this to the ATO. But employees will still be required … of tax offset you can claim. It provides a printable report with all the information you provided, your …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Rising cost of small business insurance

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…

… forget, move on with your life. But as we've seen so many times, Eddie, you pay for something called business … forget, move on with your life. But as we've seen so many times, Eddie, you pay for something called business …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Australian Government support for small business

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Jo Laverty.

ABC Radio Darwin

Subject: Australian Government support for small business, …

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Jo Laverty.

ABC Radio Darwin

Subject: Australian Government support for small business, …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

… Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, released the final report on the insurance crisis facing Australia’s amusement, leisure, and recreation sector.  The report,  The Show Must Go On , finds a Discretionary Mutual … in the industry. The interim report followed  ASBFEO's 2020 inquiry into the insurance market for small businesses , …

Ombudsman welcomes faster payment times for small business sub-contractors

Businesses with Commonwealth government contracts will have to pay their small business sub-contractors within 20 days or risk fines and penalties under new laws starting today, says the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce…

… Ombudsman welcomes faster payment times for small business sub-contractors 01 October 2021 … and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson. “Fair payment times are incredibly important for the viability of …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Small business Ombudsman's procurement report released

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.

…

… Small business Ombudsman's procurement report released 16 May 2024 The Australian Small Business and … boosting women-owned business opportunities and improving payment times.  ASBFEO is encouraged by the Government’s decision to …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Insolvency Laws

TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Luke Grant.

Money News 2GB/3AW/4BC

13 December 2022

…

… business avoid insolvency during these rather spectacular times, if that's the right word. That's what the Small … to navigate a course out of the difficult financial times that they may be experiencing at that point. Luke Grant … of the things you said is that liquidators get paid three times as much to shut down a business as they do to save it. …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Future of cash

TRANSCRIPT

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

ABC Radio Perth

Subject: Future of cash

 …

… and my guest this morning.  I don't know if you saw the report in the Australia Financial Review, but it is talking … and my guest this morning.  I don't know if you saw the report in the Australia Financial Review, but it is talking …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Bruce Billson interview with Jo McManus

Jo McManus

Australia’s had its fair share of natural disasters in the past 12 months. The most recent, of course, being in our Kimberley region with those devastating floods up there. Last year the Australian Small Business and…

… McManus One of the things I found interesting about your report, Bruce, was that you said that 97% of money spent by … McManus One of the things I found interesting about your report, Bruce, was that you said that 97% of money spent by …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Tradies and sub-contractors to be paid on time and in full, in ‘fairer go’ for construction

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) is encouraged by the Australian Government’s response to the Murray Review of Security of Payment Laws, and welcomes the announcement of further action to help ensure tradies and…

… Government’s response to the Murray Review of Security of Payment Laws, and welcomes the announcement of further action … One was hit by this cruel construction industry con four times! It can happen to anyone, even experienced contractors … when they should be ‘on the tools’.   “Security of payment is vital for small businesses – reliable cashflow is …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Digital platforms and small businesses

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Narelle Graham on ABC Radio South Australia.

Subject: Digital platforms and small businesses 

Narelle Graham 

…

… brought to the Small Business Ombudsman since July of 2020. It's the issue of fake reviews that's part of the … assumes you've still got access to the platform, but many times it's a problem being locked out that is the cause of … for long enough, we decided to dispose of it, send you a bill for the destruction of it. Thanks very much. Have a …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Future Made in Australia

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Ross Greenwood.

Sky News Business Now

Subject: 14 Steps to energise enterprise, small business and Future Made in Australia

Ross…

… more insolvency of business than ever before in recent times.  Bruce Billson And that’s right. Let's appreciate and … But still the largest proportion of our cases are around payment disputes. Really pointing to that cash flow challenge … But still the largest proportion of our cases are around payment disputes. Really pointing to that cash flow challenge …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

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

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