Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman set to make life easier for small business

PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) congratulates the Federal Government on its first step to delivering the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman with real power, with the discussion paper released today.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said retailers were excited by the news and look forward to contributing their ideas as to how the Ombudsman can best meet their needs.

“It has always been a struggle for time-poor small businesses to know exactly where to go for assistance. We commend the Government’s vision of establishing a single entry point for small businesses and hope that this initiative will indeed make life easier for retailers wanting to find out information about services and programmes.

“The Ombudsman will give small businesses the best chance of success by reducing the time spent accessing advice, resolving disputes and having their voices heard. We were also pleased to hear that the Ombudsman will minimise compliance burdens and reduce red tape so that Government can get out of the way and let small businesses get on with their job.

“Small businesses have certainly faced a rough trading environment over the last few years. The ARA is positive, however, that the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman is certainly a step in the right direction to getting the industry on the road to recovery,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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