Originally published in The Daily Telegraph

By Bruce Billson.

Banking is an essential service with a privileged position in the economy, and our small, family and farming businesses depend on having a close and reliable relationship with their bank. But when the bank leaves town, it can have a shocking effect on those businesses, jobs, liveability and prosperity. 

Since 2017, there’s been a reduction in bank branches throughout Australia of one-third and the number of automatic teller machines has been cut by two-thirds. 

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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Kerry Peck.

Radio 2BS Bathurst

27 November 2023

Kerry Peck

Small business owners are being urged by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, to be on high alert to the rising number of criminals who may try to impersonate their business or a government agency such as the Australian Taxation Office.

Mr Billson said Scam Awareness Week was an ideal time for small business owners to take a few extra moments to check they have appropriate safeguards in place to avoid falling victim.

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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.

Radio 2CC Canberra

24 November 2023

Leon Delaney

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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Tom Connell.

Sky News

24 November 2023

Tom Connell

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has welcomed the significant commitment announced today by the banking industry to better support small businesses to combat scams.

Mr Billson said a $100 million upgrade across the banking sector to confirm who money is being paid to by matching names with account numbers will particularly benefit small businesses who too often fall victim to the invoice substitution scam.

Originally published in The Daily Telegraph

By Bruce Billson

The new Optus leadership needs to demonstrate it truly understands the economic pain the recent outage has inflicted on some small and family businesses.

Our hardworking small and family businesses deserve respect and not to be treated in such a shabby way as they have been by Optus.

Telecommunications companies talk a big game about how their services are so important for the vitality of small business when they're trying to sign them up as customers.

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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Oly Peterson.

6PR Perth

20 November 2023

Oly Peterson

New support announced today by the Australian Government to help small businesses combat cyber attacks is extremely welcome, says the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson. 

“One of the biggest fears a small business has is that they will be targeted and wiped out by a cyber attack and we are pleased our strong advocacy for greater sector-wide support has been heard,” Mr Billson said. 

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Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.

Radio 2CC Canberra

10 November 2023

Leon Delaney

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, good afternoon. 

Bruce Billson

Leon, fab to be with you and the Capital listeners of 2CC.