About us

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) was established 11 March 2016 to contribute to Australia being the best place to start, grow and transform a business. We do this by assisting and advocating for small businesses and family enterprises.

ASBFEO understands the challenges facing small and family businesses and provides advice and research to improve policies, access to dispute resolution information and services and mental health support should the need arise.

We celebrate the vital and deeply personal contribution made by the more than 2.5 million small and family businesses to Australia’s prosperity, wellbeing, and community.

We recognise that how we pursue our mission is equally as important as our mission. Our guiding principles are the overarching values and behaviours that our people bring to their work. They are the foundation of how we deliver the ASBFEO services.

What we do

Our Assistance team helps small businesses and family enterprises to resolve disputes involving other businesses or Commonwealth Government agencies and avoid costly formal legal avenues.

Our Advocacy team undertakes a number of different activities to advocate for small businesses and family enterprises to improve policies affecting them.

Our Communications team ensure that our audience know about ASBFEO’s work and other supports available for small business and family enterprises. We manage the ASBFEO’s and Ombudsman’s social media presence on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, and chair a National Small Business Media Communications Network that brings together national and state government small business communications counterparts to share insights, information and collaborate on matters of importance for the small and family business sector.

Our Data and Economics team bring together a wide range of data and insights to celebrate the important contribution of small and family businesses and highlight the conditions they face. The team releases regular updates on the Small Business Data Portal and work closely with a range of stakeholders to continue to build an evidence base.

Meet our team

Bruce Billson
Ombudsman

Bruce Billson commenced his role as Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) in March 2021. The Ombudsman is an independent advocate for small and family businesses.

Bruce brings three decades of experience, knowledge, commitment and an understanding of the issues facing small business. Bruce was the Australian Government Cabinet Minister for Small Business from 2013-2015, a founding Director of Judo Bank and has held various board appointments, including the Franchise Council of Australia, Deakin University Business School and Australian Property Institute. He has also owned and operated a number of small businesses, and knows first-hand the joys and challenges this involves.

The mission of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman is to help ensure Australia is the best place to start, grow and transform a small business and family enterprise. ASBFEO understands the challenges facing small and family business and provides advice and research to improve policies, access to dispute resolution services and mental health support should the need arise.

Dr Craig Latham
Executive Director

Craig’s experience stretches across business, government and academia in both Australia and New Zealand. He has specialist expertise in commercial and tax law, regulatory reform, and private sector/government collaboration. Craig has a passion to improve the commercial environment so that small and family businesses can flourish, and a focus on speedy and low cost dispute resolution for business disputes. Craig holds undergraduate degrees in economics and law, a Masters of Law and a Doctorate of Philosophy focussed on disruptive technology and regulatory systems.

Dr Matthew Steen
Executive Director

Matthew obtained a PhD in economics from the University of Sydney in 2005 and subsequently worked as a senior policy adviser for industry associations in the areas of mining, superannuation, small business and manufacturing. Matthew also served as a senior adviser to a Federal Leader of the Opposition. Dr Matthew Steen joined ASBFEO as Executive Director of Policy & Advocacy in 2022.

Careers

Our legislation

The activities of the Office of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman are governed by the following laws:

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015

Under the Act, the Minister for Small Business is required to initiate independent reviews of the ASBFEO’s assistance function. The first independent review of the ASBFEO’s functions was required to be completed one year after its establishment, by 30 June 2017. This review was led by Ms Su McCluskey with the final report provided to the Minister.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015

Under the Act, the Minister for Small business is required to appoint an independent review no later than every four years afterwards. This second review was led by Ms Carmel McGregor PSM and the final report was provided to the Minister in June 2021.

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act) gives members of the public a general right of access to documents of an agency and official documents of a Minister, other than exempt documents or parts of documents. Exemptions may relate to national security, material obtained in confidence, Cabinet documents, or other matters set out in the Act. The Act allows individuals access to their personal records held by Government and enables them to correct any personal information that is incomplete, incorrect, out of date or misleading. The Act also requires an agency to publish information on its operations under the Information Publication Scheme and a disclosure log of information that has been accessed under freedom of information (FOI) requests. A potential FOI applicant may find the information they are seeking is already available in those publications.

Receiving access

Once the FOI request has been completed by ASBFEO, any available documents will be forwarded to the applicant. If the requested documents or parts of them are within an exemption specified in the Act, ASBFEO will provide reasons for the decision to exempt. The FOI Act provides that a disclosure log of information accessed under FOI requests must be published, except for personal, business or certain other information set out in section 11C of the Act. ASBFEO publishes its responses to FOI requests on the Treasury website at the same time as providing the response to the applicant. Documents released under the FOI Act are generally made available on the website after 4pm on Fridays (other than public holidays).

Disclosure Log

Once the FOI request has been provided to the applicant, the request will be made available on the Treasury website's Disclosure Log.

How to apply for access

To make an FOI request the applicant should:

apply online: info@asbfeo.gov.au
apply in writing: Freedom of Information, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, GPO Box 1791, CANBERRA ACT 2601

Describe as clearly as possible the information being sought. Include any reference numbers or articles that may assist in identifying specific material and where possible include a date range.

Request process

ASBFEO processed FOI requests in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and guidelines from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Charges

There is no application fee for an FOI request. Processing charges may apply to requests other than for documents containing only personal information. If there is a charge, the applicant will receive a written estimate. Applicants can ask for a charge to be waived or reduced for any reason, including financial hardship or on the grounds of public interest. Evidence may be requested when seeking a waiver of charges.