Julie Collins 2024

The Albanese Labor Government has released Australia’s first National Small Business Strategy, to make it easier for small business to operate, innovate and thrive.

The strategy lays out how different levels of government will work together to support Australia’s nearly 2.6 million small businesses.

Almost $11 million in funding will be invested from January this year as the Albanese Labor Government delivers on its commitment to ease the pressure for small businesses.

From 1 January, new funding of $10.8 million over eighteen months for the Small Business Debt Helpline and the NewAccess for Small Business Owners programs will commence.

Commonwealth, state, and territory Small Business Ministers met in Adelaide today focussing on small business conditions and to progress work on the new National Small Business Strategy.

The Albanese Labor Government has delivered on its commitment to ensure a fairer and stronger franchising sector by remaking and improving the Franchising Code of Conduct.

The Code is due to sunset on 1 April 2025 and following consultation it has been remade with important changes to keep it effective and fit for purpose.

The Albanese Government is ensuring that supermarkets will face multi‑million‑dollar penalties for harmful breaches of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to supporting small businesses by providing access to advice, assistance and dispute resolution services.

Today we are announcing a review of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO).

The review will be undertaken by small business expert Ms Judy O’Connell.

Could your small business afford to lose $46,000? That is how much the Australian Signals Directorate estimates the average cyber incident cost a small business in the 2022–23 financial year.

That’s just from the 94,000 cybercrimes that were reported to the government. I know from talking to small businesses across Australia the real number is probably much higher.

DAVID LACEY:

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering more support to help small businesses prevent and recover from cyber incidents with today’s launch of the new Small Business Cyber Resilience Service.

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to a fair playing field in franchising and is taking action to improve conduct and standards in the sector.

The Government is releasing an exposure draft of the new Franchising Code of Conduct for public consultation.

The remade Code will provide greater confidence in the franchising sector.