Next week’s National Small Business Summit (NSBS) in Melbourne on 7 & 8 August will see Professor Ian Harper, chair of the Abbott Government’s Competition Policy Review, and Dr John Hewson AM, former Liberal Party and federal opposition leader, speak about the challenges facing small business.
They’ll discuss plans for the future, following the recent B20 summit and the government’s Competition Policy Review, which will consider the state of competition in the Australian economy and how institutional frameworks and policy can strengthen the competitive process.
Professor Ian Harper will share an in-depth progress report of the review.
‘Small-business issues have been the second most commonly raised topics in submissions to date,’ said Professor Harper.
He will elaborate on major small-business concerns such as market concentration, competitive neutrality and local government particularly having unfair advantages. He’ll also disclose opportunities for small business to continue contributing to the review.
Major small-business concerns are market concentration, competitive neutrality and government having unfair advantages.
Meanwhile, Dr John Hewson will focus on international and domestic challenges facing small business in this uncertain world – referencing the long-awaited government’s tax-reform white paper.
The 12th annual NSBS, hosted by the Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA), provides a platform for small-business representatives, senior politicians, bureaucrats and big-business representatives to exchange ideas, opinions and experiences aimed at driving change and building productivity across the small-business sector.
The line-up of high-profile speakers and attendees includes Senator Bridget McKenzie; Ged Kearney, President of the ACTU; Tim Reed, CEO of MYOB; Brent Thomas, VP of Public Policy and Corporate Affairs – Australasia MasterCard Worldwide and Natalie James, Fair Work Ombudsman. These speakers provide specialist insights and information across a diverse range of small-business subjects.
COSBOA is focused on key issues such as workplace relations, the collection of superannuation, contract law and competition policies.
For more information or to register for the 2014 NSBS, visit
