National Small Business Summit

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Perspectives. Policy. Purpose.

Recently MGA TMA attended the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA) National Small Business Summit in Darling Harbour, Sydney on 5 and 6 April.

MGA TMA representatives were Debbie Smith (President), Grant Hinchcliffe (Vice President), Ripple Parekh (Director), and Mark Paladino (Business Development).

Key matters arising were:

1. Matthew Addison, Chair of

COSBOA, spoke about how

COSBOA was able to have a strong seat at the table with key State and Federal bodies regarding the pathways out of COVID-19, as well as the recent floods and impact on small businesses recovery. 2. The Hon. Matt Kean, NSW

Treasurer and Minister for Energy officially opened the Summit and acknowledged small business’s driving force to the economy. He addressed “both the gender pay gap and the gender investment gap which sees less early-stage capital flowing towards women business owners.” COSBOA has a female entrepreneurial project underway to drive the initiative for Women in

Small Business. 3. The Hon Richard Marles MP, now

Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and the Minister for Employment, examined small business as the backbone of the Australian economy which he stated has been taken for granted by the former

Morrison government with a “failure in national leadership”.

“Small Business has community at the center of its being” and Labour would address administrative burdens, need for cash flow and predictability, and deliver a better deal for small business. Solutions include payment terms and Least

Cost Routing to ensure small business receives fair share of

Government procurement. 4. The Regulators session

Facilitated by Alexi Boyd, CEO COSBOA, who welcomed Anna Longley, Assistant Commissioner - General Counsel of Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits; Danielle Press, ASIC Commissioner; Sandra Parker, Fair Work Ombudsman; Jeremy Hirschhorn, Acting Commissioner of Taxation and Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Chair of ACCC.

5. The former Attorney General and

Minister for Industrial Relations

Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, spoke via video message about the importance of small business to the Australian economy, including support and JobKeeper payment of “$314 billion in total economic support measures.” 6. An honest chat with the Australian

Council of Trade Unions

Peter Strong, former CEO of

COSBOA led this session with Sally

McManus, Secretary, Australian

Council of Trade Unions, to talk about unions in the lead up to the election.

“For the union movement the most important thing is fairness. For the last 10 years we have stalled, working people, haven’t moved ahead like big business has. We would essentially like to see more sharing in the wealth of the nation.”

Ms McManus outlined two main goals: Better job security - in relation to the shifting workforce and rise of casual roles and less permanent job placements. “We aren’t saying we need to get rid of casual workers, nor are we looking to take away the choice from

The Hon Richard Marles MP, now Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and the Minister for Employment.

The Hon. Matt Kean NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy. The Regulators The Regulators

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people. It’s more the jobs that are ongoing, these jobs need better security.” Making sure pay keeps up to the cost of living – the cost of living has increased, but pays are going backwards. “We would like to be in a position to be investing and reskilling in our own people. We don’t want our economy to rely on only young people and visa workers.” “We should be more self-sufficient as a country,” said Ms McManus. Ms McManus also discussed how the ACTU and COSBOA should aim for a bipartisan solution to find common

ground. 7. Mental health, wellbeing, and

small business

Julia Gillard, Former Prime Minister of Australia & Chair of Beyond Blue, started this session sharing key insights into small business owners’ mental health and how Beyond Blue continues to support individuals and workplaces.

“Research commissioned by the

Department of Treasury in 2020, showed almost 1 in 3 business owners reported a diagnosis of stress, anxiety, or depression in the last 12 months.

Beyond Blue has received 1.7m session on digital site, and clearly lockdowns over time have increased demand for services and support.

Beyond Blue recommend a number of things small business owners can do to create mentally healthy workplaces to reduce stress and support themselves and their employees, including developing a wellbeing plan.

NewAccess for Small Business

Owners https://www.beyondblue. org.au/get-support/newaccess/ newaccess-for-small-businessowners NewAccess for Small Business Owners is available nationally by phone or video call. Call 1300 945 301

MGA website https://www.mga.asn.au/ membership/mental-health-support 8. Working together - our recovery is leading the world

The Hon Stuart Robert MP, Former

Minister for Employment, Workforce,

Skills, Small and Family Business, opened the Summit on day two, reiterating the support government have given and continue to give,

Sally McManus, Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions, seated left. The Hon Stuart Robert MP, former Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business.

small businesses.

Stuart Robert outlined the initiatives in the budget to support small businesses to grow, innovate and create more jobs. The 2022-23

Budget contained an additional $25.2 million for initiatives that support small businesses, including $8 million for the Australian Small

Business and Family Enterprise

Ombudsman to work with service providers to enhance small business capability.

Small Business investment in digital moderisation and upskilling vital for it’s future and will have tax support benefits on tech aligned projects and work.

Payment terms visibility on the radar with a portal to view payment terms of big business 5 days terms for E-invoicing payments for Government contracts from 1sy July and 20 days for normal terms. 9. A competitive marketplace is

vital for the consumer – MGA

representation facilitated by the Hon Bruce Billson GAICD, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, this panel session with Fred Harrison, CEO, Ritchies Supermarket; Alan Tse, Co-Founder Altina Drinks; and Jo Palmer, Founder, Pointer Remote; discussed competition between big and small business in Australia and its importance to the consumer. “The law doesn’t protect competitors, it protects competition,” said Ms Palmer. Mr Harrison was adamant that it’s important to competition in Australia that the independent voice be heard. His key points were to “never let any player get to a point where they own 50% or more of the market,” and “to give consumers a choice” [in product]. Ritchie’s are proudly independent. Price is critical in delivering differentiation and is essential to consumers today. “During the pandemic Independents stood proud, with a strong distribution model, it takes every brand to feed the country”. Small business needs government support on competition matters so small business can thrive, have confidence to invest in people and renovations, to provide for an even better shopping experience. “Ritchie’s would never consider a sale to Coles or Woolies. We would sell to other Independents through Metcash, to keep this within our sector. 1.4% market share would shift to the chains overnight if Ritchie’s were sold. This will never happen, we are committed to the Independents”.

L-R:Bruce Billson GAICD, ASBFEO. Fred Harrison CEO Ritchies. Jo Palmer, Founder, Pointer Remote. Alan Tse, Co-Founder Altina Drinks