Commonwealth, state, and territory Small Business Ministers have met to discuss support for Australia’s 2.5 million small businesses and start work on a landmark new National Small Business Strategy.
Today was the fourth meeting of Small Business Ministers since the re‑establishment of the forum in 2022.
The meeting was hosted in Melbourne by the Victorian Minister for Small Business, the Hon Natalie Suleyman MP and chaired by Minister Julie Collins MP.
Ministers supported the development of a National Small Business Strategy. The National Small Business Strategy will be the first national strategy to articulate the unique contribution of small businesses to our economy and communities, and will complement states’ and territories’ existing small business strategies and charters.
The Strategy will be a collective vision for the small business sector and our commitment to work together to help small businesses thrive.
Each Minister also provided an update on small business matters within their respective jurisdictions. This included a briefing by Minister Collins on small business measures announced in the 2024–25 Federal Budget and the accompanying Australian Government Small Business Statement.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia jointly presented to the Ministers on priority issues affecting small businesses.
The Hon Stephen Jones MP, Commonwealth Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, also presented to provide an update on insurance matters.
The Ministers will meet again in late 2024.