THE City of Melbourne is encouraging unique and creative businesses of all kinds to apply for its next round of small business grants.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the funding program recognised the diversity and innovation small businesses bring to Melbourne, and the contribution they make to the city’s economy and job market.

"We now have 13,700 small businesses in Melbourne, making up 83 per cent of all businesses in the municipality," the Lord Mayor said.

“Over the past decade the City of Melbourne has allocated $8 million in grants to more than 360 businesses, many of which have gone on to achieve local and international success.

“Our support of small businesses and social enterprises has led to more than $70.9 million in turnover and more than 900 new jobs in the past decade.”

Businesses can apply for up to $30,000 towards start-up or expansion or for a grant of up to $10,000 to enter into the export market or towards providing business support services. The program is open to all industries, as long as the business is located in or planning to relocate to the City of Melbourne.

Small Business, Retail and Hospitality Portfolio Chair Councillor Susan Riley said the City of Melbourne has a long history of supporting small businesses.

"We deliver more than 50 services that can help Melbourne businesses. We aim to keep pace with how the business world is changing, supporting collaborative and sustainable ways of working to spark innovation and accelerate development,” Cr Riley said.

Applications for the grants close at midnight on Monday, 7 August 2017. Businesses can apply at www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/smallbusinessgrants.

Previous grant recipients include:

• Nexvet, a biotechnology company that researches pain medication for pets, received a $30,000 grant in 2013 to fit out its office in Melbourne. On 10 July 2017, shareholders approved the acquisition of Nexvet by the world’s largest animal health company, Zoetis, for US$85 million.
• Infiniti Technology received a start-up grant to boost development and distribution of their TouchOne keyboard, the first dedicated smartwatch keyboard compatible with square or circular-shaped devices.

The Eternal Hedonist received an expansion grant to create a virtual space online in which customers could try on their range of hats.

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THE Tax and Revenue Committee will hold an interstate hearing in Sydney on Monday to further progress its inquiry into tax engagement.

The hearing will focus on applying behavioural insights work in public policy—influencing people to behave in ways which align with government objectives—and how personal responsibility or ethical behaviour can influence tax engagement. The impact of this on the undeclared cash economy and on individual freedom and choice, including potential impacts on the tax profession, will be explored.

Committee Chair Kevin Hogan MP said Monday’s public hearing will cover many aspects of the inquiry’s broad terms of reference.

“The Sydney hearing provides us with the unique opportunity to discuss behavioural economics with academics from the US and the UK, meet with the CEO of the Board of Taxation, and have grass‑roots feedback from tax professionals like ETax Accountants and the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance—all in the one day,” Mr Hogan said.

Importantly, the Committee will also discuss comparable country perspectives with the New Zealand Country Head of one of the peak accounting profession bodies, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, appearing alongside his Australian counterpart.

Mr Hogan also noted the Committee is keen to discuss the overseas work of pioneers of behavioural insights work including Professor Robert Slonim of Sydney University, who is soon to head the Commonwealth’s Behavioural Economics Team Australia, and the work of the Behavioural Insights Team UK who first applied this field of work to the public sector.

Public hearing details: 9:30 am – 4.15pm, Monday 17 July 2017, 1 Bligh Street, SYDNEY

Please note: Members of the public attending the hearings should notify the secretariat in advance to gain entrance to the venue.

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has applauded the significant achievements by Rio Tinto’s Amrun project near Weipa with diversity in its workforce and investment in supporting local suppliers.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the project is delivering on its target to develop local business opportunities as the project nears completion.

“Today we hear Rio Tinto has spent $1 billion on goods and services with Queensland suppliers which has a massive multiplier effect throughout the economy with jobs and investments,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Sourcing goods and services locally reinforces the development and sustainability of regional Queensland. Rio’s relentless commitment to buy locally maintains the sectors’ social licence to operate.”

Fundamental to the ongoing operations of resource projects is to share the success across the region in which the project operates. Rio Tinto’s indigenous employments and retention programs ensure local people from the Western Cape region gain employment.

“Currently the project has 930 construction workers on-site and close to 100 are indigenous workers. These workers can develop into professional and leadership roles within the sector in the years ahead,” Mr Macfarlane said.

QRC’s most recent data showed that resource companies spent $50 million with about 60 indigenous businesses last financial year, which naturally translates into further indirect employment opportunities for indigenous people.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has welcomed the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Bill as a “first step in the right direction” to provide small businesses with a legislated mechanism to raise complaints.

Ombudsman Kate Carnell says the Australian Government spends between $50-60 billion each year on goods and services.

In 2015-16, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) accounted for 24 per cent of procurement by value ($13.7 billion).

Ms Carnell said the percentage, as a share of overall total value, had been steadily declining over the past three years.

“Our research and experience has highlighted several barriers to small business participation in government procurement processes,” she said.

“This has included an independent and effective complaints mechanism.”

The bill enables the Federal Court to grant an injunction or order payment of compensation in relation to a breach of Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPR).

The bill’s current form allows a supplier to lodge a complaint regarding a breach of the CPRs with the relevant Commonwealth entity undertaking the procurement.

This must occur as a first step before a supplier can apply to the court for an injunction or other remedy.

“I welcome this but note there is a time limit imposed on filing with the court (of 10 days) which can be waived in certain circumstances,” Ms Carnell said.

“The timeframe for lodgement should take into account the requirement for the responsible authority to investigate the complaint.

“Alternatively, a timeframe should be placed on the authority to investigate and report on a complaint.”

Ms Carnell said it’s not clear if the bill allows subcontractor suppliers access to the complaints mechanism.

Another concern reflects the sole use of courts as a remedy.

“This is potentially an expensive and complex pathway for many small businesses due to the time and costs associated with obtaining legal advice,” Ms Carnell said.

“There is a role for the courts but I would also like to see an alternative dispute resolution process that offers lower costs and more accessible access to justice for small business.

“This could be provided by formalising the Ombudsman’s existing role and functions as a complaint avenue or through an Industry Advocate, as proposed by the recent Joint Standing Committee on Government Procurement.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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