Consultation deadline approaching

SMALL BUSINESS owners wanting to contribute to the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s (ASBFEO) consultation initiative have one more week to put forward their ideas.

ASBFEO chief executive Kate Carnell said small businesses across the country have been weighing-in and having their say throughout the consultation process, which was launched to hear directly from small business people about the specific issues they want the ASBFEO to focus on.

“We started the consultation period in April, and since then, some common themes have certainly emerged as being hand-brakes on the growth of small businesses around Australia, including excessive red tape, broadband speeds and payroll tax,” Ms Carnell said.

“Payment times in particular is an issue that has been consistently raised with me by small business owners, so much so that it will more than likely be the focus of a future ASBFEO inquiry,” she said.

Ms Carnell said feedback from small businesses was being gathered in a range of different ways.

“I’ve been travelling around the country speaking with small businesses directly, while many people have made use of the ASBFEO’s interactive online platform ‘thinkBIGsmallTALK’ to share their ideas,” Ms Carnell said.

“The platform allows users to submit their views and rate the opinions of others, so essentially it’s an online meeting place for the small business community to gather and brainstorm,” she said.

Ms Carnell said that while the official consultation period closes at the end of June, small businesses are encouraged to continue contacting the ASBFEO in the future, with any issues they feel are impacting their operations.

The results of the consultation discussions with the sector will be reflected in an advocacy agenda, which will be released in the coming weeks and will outline the ASBFEO’s focus going forward.

www.asbfeo.gov.au/consultation

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