Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

The Government has committed to transform the Australian Small Business Commissioner into the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (the Ombudsman).

The Government has released for public consultation exposure draft legislation establishing the Ombudsman and outlining the role's functions and powers as a:

• Commonwealth-wide advocate for small businesses and family enterprises;
• concierge for dispute resolution (including providing its own, limited dispute resolution service); and
• contributor to the development of small business friendly Commonwealth laws and regulations.

After initial consultation on a Discussion Paper, Treasury is now seeking comments on the exposure draft legislation to ensure that the Ombudsman provides effective services to small businesses and family enterprises.

Accompanying the exposure draft legislation are explanatory materials, outlining the main provisions of the exposure draft legislation and explaining the rationale behind them.