Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

The Federal Government has announced that it is committed to transforming the Australian Small Business Commissioner into the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (the Ombudsman).

The Ombudsman will undertake the same responsibilities as the Small Business Commissioner with extended activities to assist Government policy-makers better understand the needs of small business.

Proposed key functions of the Ombudsman will be:

• Commonwealth-wide advocate for small businesses and family enterprises;
   
• concierge for dispute resolution (including providing its own, limited dispute resolution service); and
   
• contributor to the development of small business friendly Commonwealth laws and regulations.[1]

The Government is currently asking for submissions on the exposure draft legislation and it is expected the legislation will be introduced to parliament in the coming months.

Click here for more details on how to make a submission.

For more information contact:

Dan Simmonds
Managing Principal
Harwood Andrews
T: 03 5226 8513
E: dsimmonds@harwoodandrews.com.au

[1] http://www.treasury.gov.au/ConsultationsandReviews/Consultations/2015/Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman