"SME Advocate" BiziNet™ Articles

A report came out in December 2018 commissioned by Safe Work Australia. If the recommendations are implemented, then every workplace in Australia will be less safe.

On 18 May 2019, Australians will go to the polls to elect the 46th Australian Parliament. At one level, the election offers a choice between the Red Team (Labor led by opposition leader Bill Shorten) and the Blue Team (the Liberal and National Coalition led by PM Scott Morrison and Deputy PM Michael McCormack). Sadly, many Australians have become so disillusioned with the quality of national political leadership in recent years that the choice for them may simply come down to which colour they dislike least.

One way that COSBOA supports small business is through its advocacy projects. Two recent projects were centred upon energy and encouraging small business owners to employ people with a disability. Another project that COSBOA has been running is in coordination with Paddl Co. and aims to connect small businesses and emerging talent to find innovative solutions to business problems.

Last month, April 19 2018, COSBOA participated in a roundtable discussion convened by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to discuss small business finance. The meeting was held in Sydney and was co-chaired by RBA Governor Philip Lowe, COSBOA Chairman (and ACAPMA CEO) Mark McKenzie and Australian Bankers Association (ABA) Chairman (and ANZ CEO) Shayne Elliott.

Despite reviews of the Franchising Code in 2007, 2010 and 2013, recent Franchisee disquiet regarding high profile retail franchises and indeed Franchisor failure (i.e. Red Lea Chickens) have many parties asking whether or not there should be further amendments to the Code and other legislation. This article will make three (3) observations regarding possible changes. Indeed in late March 2018 the Federal Government has announced another enquirer whereby the Committee appointed is due to report back to Government in September 2018.