SMALL business operators have raised concerns with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) regarding the cost of sending parcels.

THE Tax and Revenue Committee is holding a public hearing in Melbourne tomorrow to explore tax engagement more broadly, covering tax professionals, commerce and academia, and householders across the community.

Committee Chair Kevin Hogan MP said the Committee will be interested to hear from Melbourne-based tax professional bodies about why so many Australians continue to rely on tax professionals to manage their tax affairs, post myTax.

An important area for review will be the way tax regulation intersects with corporate and criminal law, in the context of the black economy and tax evasion.

Professor Helen Anderson will explain the impact of phoenix activity—where businesses sequentially go bankrupt and re-form to hide profits and avoid tax obligations, on Australia’s revenue base and the competitive ‘level playing field’ for business.

Fintech payment innovator Airwallex will discuss the importance of compliance with Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism laws in the $300 billion global payment transfer market. Airwallex has developed a sophisticated client identification system to manage the risks.

The Committee will also hear from Your Life Choices, an online magazine for Australians 45 plus, about the tax and superannuation concerns of people approaching, entering or in retirement.

“Tax engagement is not just important at Tax Time each year,” Mr Hogan said. “It is also about defining the type of community you want to live in—one that offers a level playing field for business and the services that Australians expect.” 

Public hearing details: 9.30 am to 3.30pm, Tuesday 18 July 2017, Committee Room G.1, 55 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne.

Please note: Members of the public attending the hearings should notify the secretariat in advance to gain entrance to the venue.

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live 

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.  

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts will conduct public hearings over two days in Sydney this week as part of its inquiry into factors contributing to the growth and sustainability of Australia’s film and television industry.

The Chair of the committee, Luke Howarth MP, stated that "we will be hearing from some of the biggest players in the industry this week in Sydney including Australia’s most well-known production companies, commercial television channels, key industry bodies and Screen Australia".

‘The Committee is looking forward to hearing from key participants in our film and television industry who make vital contributions to Australia’s economy and culture’ added Mr Howarth.     

Public hearing details:

Day 1: 9:15am to 4:45pm, Wednesday 19 July 2017, Macquarie Room, NSW Parliament, 6 Macquarie St , Sydney

9.15am       Screen Australia
10.15am      Fox Studios Australia
11.00am     Warner Bros
11.30am      Screen Producers Australia
1.15pm        Australian Directors’ Guild
1.45pm       Australian Screen Editors
2.15pm       Australian Film and TV Bodies
3.15pm       Australian Subscr TV & Radio Assn
3.45pm       Australian Writers’ Guild
4.15pm       Animal Logic
4.45pm       Finish

Day 2: 9:15am to 4:15pm, Thursday 20 July 2017, Macquarie Room, NSW Parliament, 6 Macquarie St, Sydney

9.15am       Create NSW
10.00am     MEAA
10.45am     Win, Southern Cross & Prime
11.30am      Seven West Media
12.00pm     Network Ten Pty Ltd
1.15pm        Nine Entertainment Co.
1.45pm       Free TV Australia
2.30pm      Ausfilm
3.15pm       SLR Productions Pty Ltd
3.45pm      Flying Bark Productions
4.15pm       Finish

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

www.aph.gov.au/FilmTV

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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THE City of Melbourne is encouraging unique and creative businesses of all kinds to apply for its next round of small business grants.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the funding program recognised the diversity and innovation small businesses bring to Melbourne, and the contribution they make to the city’s economy and job market.

"We now have 13,700 small businesses in Melbourne, making up 83 per cent of all businesses in the municipality," the Lord Mayor said.

“Over the past decade the City of Melbourne has allocated $8 million in grants to more than 360 businesses, many of which have gone on to achieve local and international success.

“Our support of small businesses and social enterprises has led to more than $70.9 million in turnover and more than 900 new jobs in the past decade.”

Businesses can apply for up to $30,000 towards start-up or expansion or for a grant of up to $10,000 to enter into the export market or towards providing business support services. The program is open to all industries, as long as the business is located in or planning to relocate to the City of Melbourne.

Small Business, Retail and Hospitality Portfolio Chair Councillor Susan Riley said the City of Melbourne has a long history of supporting small businesses.

"We deliver more than 50 services that can help Melbourne businesses. We aim to keep pace with how the business world is changing, supporting collaborative and sustainable ways of working to spark innovation and accelerate development,” Cr Riley said.

Applications for the grants close at midnight on Monday, 7 August 2017. Businesses can apply at www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/smallbusinessgrants.

Previous grant recipients include:

• Nexvet, a biotechnology company that researches pain medication for pets, received a $30,000 grant in 2013 to fit out its office in Melbourne. On 10 July 2017, shareholders approved the acquisition of Nexvet by the world’s largest animal health company, Zoetis, for US$85 million.
• Infiniti Technology received a start-up grant to boost development and distribution of their TouchOne keyboard, the first dedicated smartwatch keyboard compatible with square or circular-shaped devices.

The Eternal Hedonist received an expansion grant to create a virtual space online in which customers could try on their range of hats.

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THE Tax and Revenue Committee will hold an interstate hearing in Sydney on Monday to further progress its inquiry into tax engagement.

The hearing will focus on applying behavioural insights work in public policy—influencing people to behave in ways which align with government objectives—and how personal responsibility or ethical behaviour can influence tax engagement. The impact of this on the undeclared cash economy and on individual freedom and choice, including potential impacts on the tax profession, will be explored.

Committee Chair Kevin Hogan MP said Monday’s public hearing will cover many aspects of the inquiry’s broad terms of reference.

“The Sydney hearing provides us with the unique opportunity to discuss behavioural economics with academics from the US and the UK, meet with the CEO of the Board of Taxation, and have grass‑roots feedback from tax professionals like ETax Accountants and the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance—all in the one day,” Mr Hogan said.

Importantly, the Committee will also discuss comparable country perspectives with the New Zealand Country Head of one of the peak accounting profession bodies, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, appearing alongside his Australian counterpart.

Mr Hogan also noted the Committee is keen to discuss the overseas work of pioneers of behavioural insights work including Professor Robert Slonim of Sydney University, who is soon to head the Commonwealth’s Behavioural Economics Team Australia, and the work of the Behavioural Insights Team UK who first applied this field of work to the public sector.

Public hearing details: 9:30 am – 4.15pm, Monday 17 July 2017, 1 Bligh Street, SYDNEY

Please note: Members of the public attending the hearings should notify the secretariat in advance to gain entrance to the venue.

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has applauded the significant achievements by Rio Tinto’s Amrun project near Weipa with diversity in its workforce and investment in supporting local suppliers.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the project is delivering on its target to develop local business opportunities as the project nears completion.

“Today we hear Rio Tinto has spent $1 billion on goods and services with Queensland suppliers which has a massive multiplier effect throughout the economy with jobs and investments,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Sourcing goods and services locally reinforces the development and sustainability of regional Queensland. Rio’s relentless commitment to buy locally maintains the sectors’ social licence to operate.”

Fundamental to the ongoing operations of resource projects is to share the success across the region in which the project operates. Rio Tinto’s indigenous employments and retention programs ensure local people from the Western Cape region gain employment.

“Currently the project has 930 construction workers on-site and close to 100 are indigenous workers. These workers can develop into professional and leadership roles within the sector in the years ahead,” Mr Macfarlane said.

QRC’s most recent data showed that resource companies spent $50 million with about 60 indigenous businesses last financial year, which naturally translates into further indirect employment opportunities for indigenous people.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has welcomed the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Bill as a “first step in the right direction” to provide small businesses with a legislated mechanism to raise complaints.

Ombudsman Kate Carnell says the Australian Government spends between $50-60 billion each year on goods and services.

In 2015-16, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) accounted for 24 per cent of procurement by value ($13.7 billion).

Ms Carnell said the percentage, as a share of overall total value, had been steadily declining over the past three years.

“Our research and experience has highlighted several barriers to small business participation in government procurement processes,” she said.

“This has included an independent and effective complaints mechanism.”

The bill enables the Federal Court to grant an injunction or order payment of compensation in relation to a breach of Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPR).

The bill’s current form allows a supplier to lodge a complaint regarding a breach of the CPRs with the relevant Commonwealth entity undertaking the procurement.

This must occur as a first step before a supplier can apply to the court for an injunction or other remedy.

“I welcome this but note there is a time limit imposed on filing with the court (of 10 days) which can be waived in certain circumstances,” Ms Carnell said.

“The timeframe for lodgement should take into account the requirement for the responsible authority to investigate the complaint.

“Alternatively, a timeframe should be placed on the authority to investigate and report on a complaint.”

Ms Carnell said it’s not clear if the bill allows subcontractor suppliers access to the complaints mechanism.

Another concern reflects the sole use of courts as a remedy.

“This is potentially an expensive and complex pathway for many small businesses due to the time and costs associated with obtaining legal advice,” Ms Carnell said.

“There is a role for the courts but I would also like to see an alternative dispute resolution process that offers lower costs and more accessible access to justice for small business.

“This could be provided by formalising the Ombudsman’s existing role and functions as a complaint avenue or through an Industry Advocate, as proposed by the recent Joint Standing Committee on Government Procurement.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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BUSINESS heavyweights Kate Carnell, Anna Bligh and Philip Dalidakis will discuss the future of banking for Australian small businesses at the Vodafone National Small Business Summit next month.

Prominent business leaders and senior politicians, will come together to discuss key issues facing small businesses across Australia at the Vodafone National Small Business Summit in Melbourne on August 23-25, 2017.

Now in its 15th year the summit, hosted by the Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA), is regarded as the premier event of the year to represent small business needs and will focus on 'Collaboration and Communities', building and strengthening partnerships between policy makers and industry leaders with the focus on the future of small business owners in Australia.

Across the two days, more than 30 speakers will discuss and debate significant matters facing small business people including banking and finance, regulation red-tape, cyber security, workplace relations, Vocational Education & Training (VET) and owner work-life balance.

The summit’s focus on banking requirements for small businesses and impact of managing financial stress will see respected voices from both sides of the fence, including the Philip Dalidakis, Victorian Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade; Kate Carnell, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman and Anna Bligh, CEO of the Australian Bankers' Association, share insights and discuss how banks can improve how they operate with small business owners.

Peter Strong, CEO of COSBOA commented on the vital role the Vodafone National Small Business Summit plays in maintaining and improving the business environment, economy and regulations that guide small business people.

“Collaboration between small businesses with big business and government is essential to creating an environment that allows small businesses and therefore the nation’s economy to thrive," Mr Strong said.

“Over nine in 10 businesses across Australia are considered a small business, accounting for more than 33% of our nation’s GDP and 40% of the workforce. Yet, the level of regulation red-tape across government and stringent terms from corporations materially impacts the growth capacity for smaller companies.

“In 2017, the Vodafone National Small Business Summit will bring together the leading voices and decision makers in the industry to focus on what really matters to small business owners,” said Mr Strong.

The Summit will kick off on Wednesday, August 23 with the Small Business Start-Up reception where small business owners can meet and talk to industry leaders, followed by two days of Summit discussions.

COSBOA is the country’s peak body exclusively representing the interests of small businesses.

Register for the Summit: http://www.cosboansbs.com.au/registration
#NSBS17

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