Changes to Commonwealth procurement rules that take effect today will create more opportunities for small business to win government contracts, says the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson.

“There is no substitute for customers and it’s great to see the Commonwealth’s commitment to be a bigger customer for small businesses,” Mr Billson said.

An increase in the national wage and higher superannuation payments are among a raft of changes starting on July 1 that small and family businesses must be aware of, says Bruce Billson, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.

“With so many pressures on small business owners and managers as we near the end of the financial year it can be easy to overlook the new rules that will apply from the start of the next financial year – which is this Friday,” Mr Billson said.

From 24 March 2022, anyone with a local connection to Australia (including businesses, associations and individuals) will be able to register a new category of domain name. These shorter simpler domain names will end in .au rather than .com.au, .net.au, .org.au, .gov.au or .edu.au. All Australian businesses will have until 20 September to reserve their .au equivalent domain name, then it becomes available to the general public.

Bruce Billson, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, is calling on the community to join him today in saying a big thank you to the women and men running our small and family businesses.

Mr Billson said World Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day (June 27) was the perfect chance to applaud the contribution small businesses make to our country.

Australian small businesses can now register a domain name of .au, allowing the .com, .net or .org to be dropped from your internet address (this means shoes.com.au can become shoes.au).

These shorter Australian domain names are currently reserved for businesses who already use the relevant com.au, net.au or org.au addresses until 20 September 2022.

As websites are important to many small businesses, ASBFEO wants to help you understand how this change could impact your business.

It takes quite the chocolatier to create all the magic of Easter – without the bunny.

But that’s what Stuart and his team at Enigma Fine Chocolates have achieved, as customers – eager to indulge in handmade artisan truffles – stream through the doors of the Canberra store ahead of the Easter holiday season.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has urged consumers to consciously spend with small and family businesses this weekend, amid predictions of a bumper Easter.

“Small and family businesses stand ready for your valued patronage this Easter holiday season,” Mr Billson says.

“For the first time in two years, there is freedom of movement and no trading restrictions to contend with.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says the Australian Government’s 2022/23 Budget offers welcomed targeted support to Australian small and family businesses.

The Budget includes several new, extended and enhanced measures to support the central role of small and family businesses in driving employment and economic growth:

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed today’s Federal Government pre-Budget announcement providing a cash flow support to small and family businesses through changes to PAYG tax and commitment to reducing red tape.

Under the proposed changes, the 10% GDP uplift rate that applies to PAYG and GST instalments will be reduced to 2% for the 2022-23 financial year, subject to the legislation being passed in parliament.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has marked Harmony Day (21 March, 2022) by thanking migrant-led small and family businesses for their valuable contribution to the vibrancy of the community and vitality of the national economy.