Today the Minister for Small Business Julie Collins chaired a meeting of her state and territory counterparts in Hobart.
The meeting was the second of its kind since Minister Collins re‑established the forum with the state and territory Small Business Ministers in December last year. December's meeting was the first in eight years.
The Ministers discussed strategies to strengthen Government engagement with small businesses, with a focus on encouraging small business owners to access the range of Government support available.
The Albanese Government is committed to delivering a better deal for small business and recognises the sector is the backbone of the Australian economy.
The recent federal Budget put small businesses front and center, by:
- Establishing the Energy Bill Relief Fund to provide energy bill relief of up to $650 to around 1 million eligible small businesses.
- Introducing the Small Business Energy Incentive, a bonus tax deduction to help up to 3.8 million small‑ and medium‑sized businesses save energy, upgrade their facilities and save on their energy bills.
- Increasing the instant asset write‑off asset threshold to $20,000 for businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million, for one year.
- Reducing the time small businesses spend doing taxes, saving small businesses both time and money. Measures include allowing longer to amend tax returns, trialing an independent review for small businesses in dispute with the ATO and expanding access to advice through the tax clinic program.
- Introducing practical measures to guard small businesses against cyber threats through a $23.4 million program to help them train in‑house cyber wardens.
Minister Collins said she looks forward to continued collaboration of Small Business Ministers to keep small business at the center of government decision making nation‑wide.
"It was great to meet with Ministers from across the country to discuss how government can better engage with small businesses," Minister Collins said.
"It is critical to share the work we are doing to ensure small businesses can best access the support that is available to them.
"This includes the new initiatives the Albanese Government's Budget delivered for small business ‑ helping them with the pressures of today and setting them up for growth tomorrow.
"I thank Ministers for joining me in Hobart and look forward to continuing our discussions to best support Australia's incredible small businesses."
