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DID YOU KNOW...?
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The Small Business Advocate
The Small Business Advocate (SBA) introduced in 2002 is a free and confidential service provided by the Small Business Development Corporation. The SBA assists small businesses in their dealings with government agencies. It investigates issues and concerns of small business operators and facilitates solutions where appropriate. These can include business licensing, ‘red tape’ issues or local government planning issues. The Small Business Advocate can be accessed by calling on 1300 781 222, by email at advocacy@sbdc.com.au or by fax on (08) 9325 3981.
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ABN Lookup Service
Do you need to look up Australian business numbers (ABN) for your business? A lookup service is now available, where you can check ABN details, and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and gift deductibility status of Australian businesses. You can access this information through the Federal government website at www.abn.business.gov.au.
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Daylight Savings
The three year trial of Daylight Saving began at 2.00 am on 3 December when clocks were put forward one hour. It will end on 25 March 2007. The change should not present any problems for the small business sector. The three year trial will give small business operators an opportunity to ‘try before you buy’ and a referendum will be held in 2009 to decide whether daylight saving becomes permanent in Western Australia. Advice on some of the changes small businesses need to make can be found at the State Government website at www.wa.gov.au/daylightsaving.
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Small Business Training
If you are a small business owner, you may be able to access up to $200 for training. The Small Business Smart Business program includes business training in the following areas: workplace management, financial planning, e-business, exporting and business development. You can apply for funding before the end of December 2006 through a program administrator. More information on the program and where to find administrators can be found at the Small Business Development Corporation website.
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Smart Move Publication
The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) has developed a publication called Smart move : a kit for migrants settling in Western Australia. It is available to new qualifying business migrants. The publication contains information on many helpful topics such as navigating the education and health systems, finding employment opportunities and where to search for new homes. It also provides contact details for government organisations and other service providers. Further information about the publication and/or Business Migration to Western Australia can be found on the SBDC website at www.sbdc.com.au.
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Working with Children Check
Small business operators and their employees who work with children should be aware that they may be required by law to have a national criminal record check. The new laws aim to prevent people with certain types of criminal records working or volunteering with children. The Checks which came into effect on 1 January are to be phased in over five years. Self employed and new paid employees who work with children are among the first groups to need this Check and they are urged to apply before 31 December deadline. More information can be found through the Department of Community Development on their website at www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au or by calling the inquiries line on 1800 883 979 or 6217 8100.
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Internet Guide
Are you looking to take your small business online? Small business operators can now access a new internet resource. The Australian Domain Name Administrator has recently launched its internet guides through a series of free Let’s Talk podcasts. The podcasts contain information on how to develop a web presence, business tips and interviews with other business operators. The site can be accessed by following the link on the Australian Domain Name Administrator website at www.auda.org.au.
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Indigenous Tourism Businesses Resource
Indigenous Tourism Australia has developed a new internet site that provides assistance to indigenous entrepreneurs. The site is a one-stop shop for operators looking to start or grow their tourism business and offers resources to tap into the international market. It also enables Indigenous tourism operators to find information about how to access funding, what events are happening throughout the year, and how to find other businesses involved in the same industry. The site can be accessed at www.indigenoustourism.australia.com.
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WorkChoices Seminars
Complimentary WorkChoices information sessions are now available in your local area for your industry. General and industry specific seminars are available to help small business operators understand how WorkChoices will affect their businesses. The sessions are available in both metropolitan and regional locations and will continue until January 2007. More information can be found on the WorkChoices website at www.workchoices.gov.au/seminars.
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The Office of Workplace Services
Did you know that small business operators in Bunbury and Kalgoorlie can now access the Office of Workplace Services (OWS) closer to home? Two new regional offices have opened in these areas. The OWS provides information on the Federal Government’s Workplace Relations Act 1996. Its role is to educate workers and employers on the Act, monitor compliance and investigate claims of alleged breaches. More information about the role of OWS and how it can help small business can be found on the Office of Workplace Services website www.ows.gov.au.
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Sensis Small Business Publication
Interested in growing your small business? Sensis has produced a free publication and a website that aims to help small business owners grow their businesses. The publication Small business, big opportunity covers areas such as how to identify potential customers and also provides advice on advertising methods. Small business, big opportunity is available on the Sensis website at http://www.smallbusiness.sensis.com.au.
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Changes to Stamp Duty
Small businesses involved in commercial hiring industries have received some good news for the New Year. Presently the hire of goods and equipment by commercial hire businesses is subject to stamp duty. From 1 January 2007, duty is not chargeable on hiring charges regardless of when the hiring arrangement was entered into. This means that all existing contracts and those entered into after the start of 2007 will not be subject to stamp duty. More information on the changes can be found on the State Tax Review website at www.dtf.wa.gov.au/cms/tre_content.asp?ID=1350.
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ANZ Industry Benchmarks
The ANZ offers Financial Benchmarking tools for small business operators. The tools can assist small businesses in benchmarking their performance against their industry and other businesses. The tools include an Industry Analyser which provides information on the financial performance of other businesses in the industry. There is also a Breakeven Analysis Tool and a series of Financial Ratio Calculators which can be used. More information on the ANZ Financial Benchmarking Tools can be found at
www.anz.com.au/australia/business/calculator/businessbenchmark/home.asp.
The WARSBA Winners
The Western Australian Regional Small Business Awards (WARSBA) 2006 were held at the Perth Convention Centre on 3 November 2006.
The overall winner, Custom Composts, a Mandurah compost manufacturer was named Best Business with 5-10 Employees and Best Regional Small Business for 2006. Alison Lannin from the Bunbury Small Business Centre was the 2006 inductee into the Regional Small Business Hall of Fame, recognising her outstanding contribution and support of small businesses in the Bunbury region.
Other Award Winners were:
Blue Steel - Best Micro Business for Kelly’s Hot Water, Gas and Air (Peel Region)
GWN - Best Home Based Business for Section Enterprises (Esperance Region)
WA Business News - Best Business with 5-10 Employees for Custom Compost (Peel Region)
Telstra Country Wide - Best Business with 10-20 Employees for Goldfields Crane Hire (Kalgoorlie Region)
Retail Hours and Fair Trading
The Retail Shops and Fair Trading Legislation Amendment Act 2006 (Act) will provide greater protection for small businesses from unconscionable conduct and confirms retail hours. It is expected to come into operation early next year.
The Act will include:
- the confirmation of the current trading hours regime;
- increasing the number of persons permitted to work in small retail shops from 10 to 13;
- exemption of apprentices from this 13 person limit; and
- the small business legislative protection package.
The Act will confirm the current retail trading hours regime resulting from the outcome of the 2005 Referendum. General retail trading hours will remain as:
- 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
- 8:00 am – 9:00 pm Thursday
- 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Friday
More information on retail trading hours including trading hours for small shops and tourism precincts can be found on the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection website at www.docep.wa.gov.au.
Small business operators will be pleased with the greater protection provided under law in cases where the conduct of landlords is unconscionable. This part of the law is known as the Small Business Legislative Protection Package. These changes include the:
- Incorporation of provisions prohibiting unconscionable conduct in business to business transactions;
- Incorporation of unconscionable conduct provisions that specifically relate to commercial tenancy;
- Providing jurisdiction to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) to hear retail tenancy disputes which relate to unconscionable conduct; and
- Providing protection to tenants so that they can form and join tenants’ associations and other similar bodies, to gain bargaining power.
Unconscionable conduct deals with harsh and oppressive behaviour in business transactions. Generally defined, it is conduct which is so unreasonable, it goes against good conscience. When the amendments come into force, the laws will prohibit unconscionable conduct by landlords and tenants and allows the State Administrative Tribunal to consider matters where unconscionable conduct has occurred.
Drought Legislation - Support for Small Business
If you are a small business operator in a drought affected area, you may be able to access State or Federal funding. The Federal Government is extending the eligibility criteria for small businesses which are located in drought affected areas. These include Mullewa, Chapman Valley, Morawa, Perenjori, Shark Bay, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kambalda, and Norseman.
Small business operators who are located in Exceptional Circumstances declared areas and who are able to demonstrate that 70 per cent of their total income comes from farm business in these areas can access the income support and interest rate subsidies. Eligible businesses can access interest rates at 50 per cent of interest costs in the first year and 80 per cent in the second and subsequent years of an Exceptional Circumstances declaration. This is valid up to a maximum of $100,000 per year or $500,000 over five years. Small business operators can find out more information by contacting either Centrelink or the National Drought Helpline on 13 23 16.
The State Government 2006 Dry Season Assistance Scheme provides vital funding for farmers to pay for stockfeed and to address soil erosion.
The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) can also provide advice in areas such as cashflow, debt management and business planning to help small businesses affected by drought. Small business operators can contact their nearest Small Business Centre on 131 BIZ (131 249).
Business Migration News
The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) recently held migration expos to showcase Western Australia to potential business owners and skilled workers.
Expos were held in London, Manchester, York, and Dublin and were well attended with 800 Skilled and 50 Business visa applicants being interviewed and registered.
At the Expos representatives from the State Migration Centre at the SBDC and the Overseas Qualifications Unit at the Department of Education and Training provided information to over 18,000 visitors. The aim of the expos is to attract skilled workers and potential business owners to the State to address the skills shortages.
The Centre continued its skills and business migrant attraction program with expos in Seoul, Taiwan and India in November.
The SBDC attended the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in Taipei. The SBDC also met with several representatives from the Western Australian Trade Office and hosted a dinner for migration agents in South Korea.
In India, the SBDC participated in the International Mining and Machinery Expo (IMME) 2006 in Kolkata, India. This event attracted more than 200 exhibitors from over 15 countries and the visit raised the profile of Western Australia to potential business migrants in the mining industries. Following this, SBDC held several migration agents seminars and met with potential business migrants interested in moving to Western Australia.
The State Migration Centre at the SBDC was established to provide support for business and skilled migrants in relocating and developing their small businesses in Australia. Its key aims include attracting skilled migrants to Western Australia and to provide information to small to medium sized businesses about how the State Government can assist in sourcing skilled labour, for example, this can include sponsorship for two skilled visa categories.
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