SMALL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Early access to super extended, Treasury reveals

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Original article by Adrian Flores
My Business – Page: Online : 24-Jul-20

The federal government has extended the deadline for people wanting to apply for the early release of up to $10,000 from their superannuation fund from 24 September to 31 December. The government has also advised that the COVID-19 SME Guarantee Scheme has been extended to loans written until 30 June 2021, and that the Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy has been extended for an additional six months to 31 March 2021, as well as being broadened to cover medium-sized businesses from 1 July.

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Bashing business damages economy

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 13 : 23-Dec-19

Former Business Council of Australia president Graham Bradley says that "anti-business rhetoric" within government is having a negative impact on the economy and deterring capital investment. He has also criticised the federal government for aligning itself with small and medium business and denigrating big business. Meanwhile, Australian Investment Council CEO Yasser El-Ansary says weak consumer confidence is deterring companies from investing, adding that the BCA’s proposal to include a business investment allowance in the May 2020 Budget would only provide a short-term economic stimulus.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT COUNCIL

No justice for SMEs when the tax office smells blood

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Original article by Robert Gottliebsen
The Weekend Australian – Page: 31 : 21-Dec-19

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal’s landmark ruling in favour of the Australian Taxation Office against gold refiner EBS has significant implications for small and medium enterprises. The case – which centred on the tax treatment of bullion and scrap gold under the GST regime – had gone on for about six years, and the appeals process is likely to take another several years. The majority of SMEs simply cannot afford the cost of such lengthy legal proceedings. The small business appeals tribunal may provide some relief for SMEs, but government action is needed to make it easier for SMEs to conduct business in Australia.

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AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, AUSTRALIA. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL, EBS

Treasurer’s push to ease SME squeeze

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 9 : 1-Nov-19

The federal government will seek to make it easier for small and medium enterprises to access credit by urging banks to waive responsible lending standards for the sector. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg notes that the distinction between a small business loan and a personal loan is often a grey area, given that small business owners often use their family home as security when taking out a loan. Council of Small Business of Australia CEO Peter Strong says banks often advise small business owners to take out a personal loan instead, as they are cheaper and less complicated.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

Workplace hitch to PM growth pitch

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Original article by Andrew Tillett, Matthew Cranston, John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 24-Apr-19

Council of Small Business Organisations CEO Peter Strong says industrial relations reform will be essential if the federal government is to achieve its goal of creating 250,000 new small businesses over the next five years. Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO James Pearson says that in addition to workplace reforms, the government must invest in training and take action to reduce power prices. The Institute of Public Affairs adds that action to reduce the red tape burden is also necessary.

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COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, QUANTUM BUSINESS FINANCE PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Morrison fund woos small enterprises

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 17 : 23-Apr-19

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will launch a $100 million government-backed fund that will provide equity funding to small businesses. The Australian Business Growth Fund is based on similar initiatives in the UK and Canada. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged to create 250,000 new small businesses over the next five years, with 230,000 small businesses having been launched over the last five years. National Australia Bank is in charge of efforts to launch the Australian Business Growth Fund.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Small business contract safeguards beefed up

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 28-Mar-19

The federal government has outlined plans to extend its laws on unfair contract terms to a broader range of small businesses. Firms with annual turnover of up to $10m will be covered by the laws under the proposed reforms, while the threshold will be increased from 20 employees to 100. Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert has stressed that the government will not pursue any reforms without consulting with all relevant stakeholders.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

PM heads off revolt by Nationals

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 18-Feb-19

The National Party is very unhappy over the federal government’s shelving of legislation that would allow the forced divestment of energy companies’ assets. It is understood that some Nationals MPs were prepared to cross the floor of the House of Representatives and vote against the government on small business legislation. The government has moved to placate the Nationals by agreeing to support amendments to the legislation that will make it easier for smaller businesses to sue larger companies. The government has also indicated that it will support a Labor/Greens motion calling for a royal commission into the treatment of the disabled.

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NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL

PM’s tax-break move a win for small business

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Original article by Michael Roddan, Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 2 : 30-Jan-19

The federal government has extended a tax break for small businesses, in a move which Prime Minister Scott Morrison says will benefit more than three million small businesses with annual turnover of up to $10m. The threshold for the small business instant asset write-off has been increased to $25,000, as part of the government’s strategy to gain the support of small business owners ahead of the election. The government has also committed to creating an additional 1.25 million jobs over five years if it wins the election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

Morrison to boost small end of town

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Oct-18

The federal government is understood to be working on various measures aimed at assisting small business. They include helping small companies to get paid more quickly by larger firms, increasing their access to finance and improving dispute resolution with the Australian Taxation Office. Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan recently criticised suggestions that the ATO has a vendetta against small business, while Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert says the government will review measures aimed at protecting small businesses against unfair contract terms.

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AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN SMALL BUSINESS AND FAMILY ENTERPRISE OMBUDSMAN