Advocating for small business

Ensuring the voice of Western Australian small business is heard and considered by governments at all levels is one of our key roles.

Our Policy and Advocacy team is focused on:

• evaluating and providing advice on new and existing government policies and legislation
• completing submissions to governmental and parliamentary reviews and inquiries
• conducting research into the small business sector
• liaising with, and representing, the views of small business owners to government bodies
• providing advice and support to the Minister for Small Business on matters affecting the sector.

Through this work, we influence the development of policy and legislation that relates to the small business sector, ensuring that its impact is minimised. By doing so, we are supporting the government to improve the operating environment for small business owners in Western Australia.

Completed policy and advocacy activities

Policy submissions and advocacy work we completed during the 2022/23 year includes:

• A statutory review of the SBDC Amendment Act 2020 was completed with the report tabled in Parliament.
• A comprehensive submission to the statutory review of the Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Act 1985 and representation of small business interests as part of a joint-agency working group.
• Updates provided to Streamline WA and the Council of Regulators on local government reform initiatives arising from the Small Business Friendly Approvals Program.
• Participation in the WA Government’s liquor reforms advocating for a risk-based system of licensing.
• Australian Bureau of Statistics’ review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC).
• Independent review of the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 (Cth).
• Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ proposed Country of Origin Labelling for Seafood in Hospitality Settings.
• Department of Home Affairs’ 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy Discussion Paper.
• Effectiveness of corporate insolvency in Australia.
• Capacity and capability of ASIC to undertake proportionate investigation and enforcement action arising from reports of alleged misconduct.
• Independent review of WA’s management of and response to COVID-19.
• Independent review of the WA Jobs Act 2017.
• Reforms to WA’s disability legislation.

Help shape future policy and advocacy submissions

The views of small business owners play an important role in helping us learn more about their key concerns. These views are then incorporated into our policy submissions.

If you operate a small business in WA and would like to have your say on issues affecting the sector by participating in future surveys, please contact us.