Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bill 2015

The Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Bruce Billson, has introduced into Parliament the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bill 2015.

The Ombudsman will be able to respond to requests for assistance by an operator of a small business or family enterprise, and will also have an advocacy function.

The Ombudsman won’t duplicate the functions of existing Commonwealth, State or Territory officials. It will also not undertake a formal role at this time in relation to dispute resolution under the Franchising and Horticulture Codes.

The Bill and Explanatory Statements can be viewed at the Parliament of Australia website.

Small business scams and cybercrime forum – video now available

On 19 May 2015, the ACCC and the Institute of Public Accountants hosted a small business scams and cybercrime forum in Melbourne. The aim of the forum was to help small business operators and stakeholders understand the scam and cybercrime risks small businesses face, and how they can best protect themselves. The event featured three expert speakers and a question-and-answer panel discussion.

A video of the webinar is available below.