Advocacy

We advocate across all levels of government, ensuring that the challenges and opportunities of small and family businesses across Queensland are heard and considered. Be part of our community and let’s champion your interests together!

Partnerships

National Small Business Commissioners’ forum

The Commissioner collaborates as part of the National Small Business Commissioners’ (NSBC) forum. Participants include the small business commissioners of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia together with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO).

Officers from the QSBC also regularly collaborate with officers from ASBFEO and interstate Commissioners’ offices via a National Strategy Group, which focuses on national small business policy and advocacy matters, and a National Assistance Group, which focuses on continuously improving assistance and dispute outcomes.

Committees

The Commissioner (or nominated proxy from the QSBC) participates on a range of committees to advocate for Queensland small and family business interests.

The QSBC currently sits on the following committees:

  • ASIC Queensland Regional Liaison Committee
  • Brisbane City Council Small Business Roundtable
  • Council of Small Business Organisations Australia’s Member and Stakeholder Roundtable (participant), February 2022 – present
  • Federal Regulatory Agency Group (observer), March 2017 – present
  • Food Production (Safety) Act 2002 Review Steering Committee (Member), 2024 – present
  • General Goods and Services Industry Reference Group (member), January 2018 – present
  • Insurance Council of Australia Business Advisory Council, 2024 – present
  • National Assistance Group (member) – July 2021 – present
  • National Retail Association Retail Crime Committee Qld (member)
  • National Small Business Commissioners Forum (member), March 2017 – present
  • National Strategy Group (member) – July 2021 – present
  • QSBC Small Business Friendly Program Roundtable (chair), 2020 – present
  • QSBC Small Business Industry Roundtable (chair), March 2017 – present
  • QSBC Small Business Regional Roundtable (chair), October 2023 – present
  • Queensland Chiefs Working Group (member)
  • Queensland Government Procurement Committee
  • Small Business and Franchising Consultative Committee (observer), March 2017 – present
Previous committees
  • Small Business Lessors Roundtable (chair), September 2023 – 2025
  • Australian Taxation Office Small Business Stewardship Group (observer), May 2020 – 2024
  • Department of Small Business, Employment and Training, Small Business Wellness Package Working Group (member), July 2022 – 2024
  • Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland Advisory Council
  • Procurement Industry Advisory Group (member), March 2017 – 2024
  • Queensland Small Business Advisory Council (ex-officio member), May 2022 – 2024
  • North Queensland Small Business Recovery Advisory Council (member), November 2019 – December 2023
  • Better Regulation Taskforce, February 2017 – December 2020
  • Summertime Taskforce Industry Reference Group (chair), September – December 2021
  • Business Registry Strategic Advisory Council (member), July 2021 – December 2023
  • Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland Advisory Council (member), May – December 2022 

Submissions

Submissions for 2025-26 coming soon. 

2024-25 Submissions

Considering a licensing regime for the franchising sector

Submission to The Treasury (Cwlth) about whether the Australian Government should create a licensing regime for the franchising sector. More

Construction Productivity Inquiry

Submission to the Queensland Productivity Commission about the inquiry which will examine how policies and regulation affect productivity in the construction industry and consider opportunities for reform that will provide net benefits for the community. More

Night Life Economy Commissioner Bill 2024

Formal feedback to Department of Employment, Small Business and Training on the draft Night Life Economy Commissioner Bill 2024 to help inform how the bill will support small businesses across Queensland.

Responsible Procurement Guide

Formal feedback to Queensland Government Procurement about the Responsible Procurement Guide for Queensland Government.

Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024

Submission to the Office of Industrial Relations (Qld) about the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024.

Independent review of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

Formal feedback to The Treasury (Cwlth) to the independent review of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman. More

Information standard for country of origin labelling for seafood in hospitality settings

Submission to Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Cwlth) about the information standard for country of origin labelling for seafood in hospitality settings. More

Inquiry into creating a dynamic and resilient economy

Submission to the Australian Productivity Commission about the inquiry into creating a dynamic and resilient economy. More

Insurance price monitoring

Feedback to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about insurance price monitoring. More

Personal Insolvency Consultation on Minimal Asset Procedure

Submission to the Attorney-General’s Department (Cwlth) about the personal insolvency minimal asset procedure to better understand the pressure points and potential key areas for reform. More

Procurement and Supply Chain Program Blueprint

Feedback to Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority about the Procurement and Supply Chain Program Blueprint. More

Proposal to mandate cash acceptance

Submission to The Treasury (Cwlth) about the proposal to mandate cash acceptance by businesses supplying essential goods and services. More

Reducing red tape for Queensland councils

Feedback to the Local Government Red Tape Reduction Taskforce (Qld) about reducing red tape for Queensland councils. More

Review of ACCC Compliance and Enforcement Priorities

Feedback to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about the review of ACCC Compliance and Enforcement Priorities. More

Review of the Ethical Procurement Compliance Framework

Feedback to Queensland Government Procurement about the review of the Ethical Procurement Compliance Framework.

Tobacco and Other Smoking Products and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

Submission to Queensland Health about the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. More

Unfair trading practices – design of proposed general and specific prohibitions

Submission to The Treasury (Cwlth) about unfair trading practices in relation to the design of proposed general and specific prohibitions. More

2023-24 Submissions

Independent review of Queensland workers’ compensation scheme

15 December 2023

Every five years Queensland undertakes an independent review of the workers’ compensation scheme. More.

Lending to Small Business Approach Consultation

28 September 2023

From 18 August to 29 September 2023, AFCA invited members, consumer groups, industry bodies and other stakeholders to submit feedback and questions during consultation on its draft Approach Appropriate to Lending to Small Business. More

Consultation paper – National Tax Clinic Program

9 February 2024

The ATO is seeking feedback to inform the development of the National Tax Clinic Grant Opportunity Guidelines in line with better practice according to the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017. More

Unfair trading practices – Consultation Regulation Impact Statement

29 November 2023

In September 2022, the Commonwealth, state and territory consumer ministers agreed that the Commonwealth would lead a public consultation on options to address unfair trading practices on behalf of all jurisdictions. More

Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct

4 July 2024

The Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct (Code) outlines the Commonwealth’s minimum expectations of suppliers and their subcontractors while under contract with the Commonwealth from 1 July 2024. More

Payment Times Reporting Rules amendments

19 August 2024

In the 2023–24 Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Australian Government announced implementing the Government’s response to the recommendations from the Statutory Review of the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 (Government’s response). These proposed rules support the Payment Times Reporting (Amendment) Bill 2024 which received Royal Assent on 9 July 2024. More

Food and Grocery Code of Conduct Review 2023–24

24 June 2024

The purpose of the Food and Grocery Code (the Code) aims to address harmful practices in the grocery industry stemming from an imbalance of bargaining power between supermarkets and their suppliers. More

Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024

1 July 2024

The Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 16 April 2024 to clarify and simplify the trust account framework. More

Summary Offences (Prevention of Knife Crime) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

1 February 2024

The Bill amends the Summary Offences Act 2005 (Summary Offences Act) as part of reforms designed to promote community safety, reduce youth offending and minimise the risks associated with knives and other dangerous items. More

Country of origin labelling for seafood in hospitality settings

3 August 2023

On 25 October 2022, the Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic MP, announced the Australian Government’s intent to work with the seafood and hospitality sectors to develop mandatory country of origin labelling for seafood in hospitality that will help consumers know if the seafood they order is Australian, while minimising costs and compliance burden on businesses. More

Independent Review of the 2020 General Insurance Code of Practice

14 November 2023

The General Insurance Code of Practice sets out the minimum standards of service and conduct that general insurers must meet in their dealings with customers must be independently reviewed every three years. More

Review of the Franchising Code of Conduct

8 February 2024

On 8 February 2024, the Minister for Small Business, the Hon Julie Collins MP, released the Independent Review of the Franchising Code of Conduct by Dr Michael Schaper. More

Trading (Allowable Hours) Regulation 2014

Queensland parliamentary committee considered proposed amendments to the Trading (Allowable Hours) Regulation 2014. For more information.  More

Regulatory framework for online alcohol sales and deliveries in Queensland

26 June 2023

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General consulted on proposed measures to develop a new regulatory framework for online alcohol sales and deliveries in Queensland. This may involve amendments to the Liquor Act 1992 and the Wine Industry Act 1994. More

Projects

There are currently no major projects underway. 

Previous projects
  • Queensland Small Business Hardship Appeal (April 2022 – June 2023). 
  • Summertime Taskforce (May 2021 – October 2022)

For more information about previous projects, please contact us.