{ "entity_id": "B-003996", "folder": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "type": "Statutory Body", "jurisdiction": "Commonwealth", "portfolio": "Treasury", "website": "http://www.asbfeo.gov.au", "data_status": "partial", "completeness": { "has_strategy_brief": true, "has_strategy_structured": true, "has_vision": false, "has_kpi_targets": true, "has_kpi_results": true, "has_strategy_overview": true, "has_legislation_text": true, "has_legislation_structured": false, "has_global_initiatives_text": false, "has_ideas": true, "has_artifacts": true, "n_ideas": 12, "n_legislation": 0, "n_artifacts": 7, "n_kpi_targets": 3, "n_kpi_results": 3, "n_outcomes": 1, "verified_own_data": true }, "strategy_profile": { "status": "needs_review", "confidence": "medium", "summary": "Providing support and advocacy to small businesses and family enterprises to help them thrive.", "official_site_url": "http://www.asbfeo.gov.au", "source_documents": [ { "type": "strategie", "title": "strategic framework", "url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "period": "2025", "confidence": "medium" } ], "purpose": null, "vision": null, "strategic_priorities": [], "values": [ { "name": "Assistance", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Data Analysis", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Enablement", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Advocacy", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Communications", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Information", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Reporting", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Operations", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Dispute Resolution", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Addressing Sector Economic Impact", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null }, { "name": "Strategic Agency Capability", "description": "", "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": null } ], "outcomes": [ { "name": "Outcome 1: Assisting small businesses and family enterprises", "description": "Providing support and advocacy to small businesses and family enterprises to help them thrive.", "activities": [ "Assistance & Data Analysis Enablement & Advocacy", "Communications & Information & Reporting" ], "source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "source_page": 1, "source_deep_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf#page=1" } ], "performance_measures": [ { "code": "ADRE01", "measure": "Number of disputes resolved", "target": "Increase by 15%", "latest_result": "14% increase", "status": "Partially achieved", "target_source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "target_source_page": 1, "result_source_url": "", "result_source_page": 1 }, { "code": "ADRE02", "measure": "Client satisfaction rate", "target": "90%", "latest_result": "88%", "status": "Substantially achieved", "target_source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "target_source_page": 1, "result_source_url": "", "result_source_page": 1 }, { "code": "ADRE03", "measure": "Number of advocacy initiatives", "target": "20", "latest_result": "18", "status": "Mostly achieved", "target_source_url": "https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf", "target_source_page": 1, "result_source_url": "", "result_source_page": 1 } ], "document_alignment_terms": { "must_support": [], "watch_terms": [ "Number of disputes resolved", "Client satisfaction rate", "Number of advocacy initiatives" ], "avoid_claiming_without_evidence": [] }, "review_note": "Structured strategy exists but is incomplete." }, "strategy_brief_md": "# Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman — Strategy Brief\n\n**Reporting period**: 2024-25\n**Corporate plan in force**: 2025-26\n**Corporate Plan**: [2025-26](https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf)\n\n## Outcomes\n\n### Outcome 1: Assisting small businesses and family enterprises\nProviding support and advocacy to small businesses and family enterprises to help them thrive. [[CP p.1](https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf#page=1)]\n\n**Key activities:**\n- Assistance & Data Analysis Enablement & Advocacy\n- Communications & Information & Reporting\n\n## Values and principles\n\n_ASBFEO Strategic Framework_\n\n- Assistance\n- Data Analysis\n- Enablement\n- Advocacy\n- Communications\n- Information\n- Reporting\n- Operations\n- Dispute Resolution\n- Addressing Sector Economic Impact\n- Strategic Agency Capability\n\n## What they will measure themselves on this year (targets from 2025-26 corporate plan)\n\n| Code | Measure | Target | Source |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| ADRE01 | Number of disputes resolved | Increase by 15% | [CP p.1](https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf#page=1) |\n| ADRE02 | Client satisfaction rate | 90% | [CP p.1](https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf#page=1) |\n| ADRE03 | Number of advocacy initiatives | 20 | [CP p.1](https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf#page=1) |\n\n## How they performed last year (results from 2024-25 annual report)\n\n| Code | Measure | Result | Status | Source |\n|---|---|---|---|---|\n| ADRE01 | Number of disputes resolved | 14% increase | Partially achieved | AR p.1 |\n| ADRE02 | Client satisfaction rate | 88% | Substantially achieved | AR p.1 |\n| ADRE03 | Number of advocacy initiatives | 18 | Mostly achieved | AR p.1 |", "strategy_overview_evidence_md": null, "internal_strategy_evidence_md": "# Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman - Strategy, Performance, and Operating Profile\n\n**Generated at**: 2026-05-09T22:31:46.642081+00:00\n**Entity ID**: B-003996\n**Entity type**: Statutory Body\n**Jurisdiction**: Commonwealth\n**Portfolio**: Treasury\n**Website**: http://www.asbfeo.gov.au\n\n> Draft generated from scraped source material. Treat this as an evidence pack for editorial review, not a final judgement.\n\n## Source Coverage\n\n| Source type | Count |\n|---|---:|\n| other-pdfs | 5 |\n| pages | 23 |\n| reviews | 1 |\n| strategies | 1 |\n\n## Executive Readout\n\n### Purpose\n\n- 6.1.10 As recognised by the Royal Commission,55 ensuring certainty of support measures including\nrelief funding, will allow small and family businesses and family enterprises, including sole-\ntraders, an opportunity to better plan, be prepared, and be more resilient in the event of a\nnatural disaster.\n‘The purpose of a recovery plan should be to provide immediate relief to stay afloat, retain staff, and\nrecover the business that could take several years.’\nSmall Business Association of Australia Submission – Page 3\n6.1.11 In any community, people need jobs, and communities need goods and services.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 8.2.2 The Sendai Framework proposes that national institutions, such as large corporations,\nprofessional associations, financial institutions, regulators and philanthropic foundations have\na critical role in integrating disaster risk management and preparedness, including business\ncontinuity support for micro, small and medium sized enterprises.82\n8.2.3 Supporting business planning and continuity should be done by:\n• engaging in awareness raising and training\n• engaging in and supporting research and innovation, and technological development\nfor disaster risk management\n• sharing and disseminating knowledge, practices and non-sensitive data\n• actively participating, as appropriate and under the guidance of the public sector, in the\ndevelopment of normative frameworks and technical standards that incorporate\ndisaster risk management.83\n8.2.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 83]\nAttachment D | Recommendations | Inquiry Report\nRecommendation 19.4 The Australian Building Codes Board, working with other bodies\nNational Construction as appropriate, should:\nCode\n1. assess the extent to which AS 3959:2018 Construction of\nbuildings in bushfire-prone areas, and other relevant\nbuilding standards, are effective in reducing risk from\nnatural hazards to lives and property, and\n2. conduct an evaluation as to whether the National\nConstruction Code should be amended to specifically\ninclude, as an objective of the code, making buildings\nmore resilient to natural hazards.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 6.5.6 One accountant in a disaster-prone region of Australia pointed directly to the benefits to a\nbusiness owner of being able to make the decision to wind up the business before they are put\ninto liquidation by creditors: ‘…for mental health the quicker we can end the process and get\nthe business owner to move on to the next stage of their life the more chance of…not hav[ing]\nbig mental health issues’.70\n6.5.7 Small and family business owners provided feedback that some months following a natural\ndisaster, an additional grant from government could be considered with the express purpose of\nallowing them to seek advice from their accountant or trusted adviser to conduct a health\ncheck on their business.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n\n### Role and Functions\n\n- 8.2.2 The Sendai Framework proposes that national institutions, such as large corporations,\nprofessional associations, financial institutions, regulators and philanthropic foundations have\na critical role in integrating disaster risk management and preparedness, including business\ncontinuity support for micro, small and medium sized enterprises.82\n8.2.3 Supporting business planning and continuity should be done by:\n• engaging in awareness raising and training\n• engaging in and supporting research and innovation, and technological development\nfor disaster risk management\n• sharing and disseminating knowledge, practices and non-sensitive data\n• actively participating, as appropriate and under the guidance of the public sector, in the\ndevelopment of normative frameworks and technical standards that incorporate\ndisaster risk management.83\n8.2.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- Over a period of six (6) weeks, stakeholders were invited to contribute to the Review via\nfour (4) channels as shown in the table below:\nConsultation Stakeholders Method of Contact Number of\nChannel Respondents\nIn-person or - Commonwealth agencies Email and phone contact 30\nonline interview (including regulators) with utilising:\nfunctions that impact small - A contact list provided by\nbusinesses and family DISER\nenterprises - Additional stakeholders\n- State government agencies identified during the\nwith responsibility for small course of the Review\nbusiness\n- State small business\ncommissioners\n- Commonwealth and State\nOmbudsmen\n- National and state-based\nindustry associations\n- Peak bodies\nWritten response All stakeholders Link to DISER Consultation 20\nto the Review Hub published:\nDiscussion Paper - In a press release from\non the The Hon Stuart Robert\nConsultation Hub MP, Minister for\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [pages 18,19,20]\nSmall businesses - 48\nSmall Business\nSurvey\nWritten - Commonwealth agencies Emails received in response 15\nsubmissions (including regulators) with to the Discussion Paper or\nreceived via functions that impact small consultation invitations\nemails businesses and family\nenterprises\n- State government agencies\nwith responsibility for small\nbusiness\n- State small business\ncommissioners\n- Commonwealth and State\nOmbudsmen\n- National and state-based\nindustry associations & peak\nbodies\nConsultation questions were tailored by stakeholder type and designed overall to capture a well-\nrounded body of evidence to assist the Review to answer each of the Terms of Reference.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- RECENTLY ADDED ASSISTANCE FUNCTIONS\nSince the 2017 Review, new functions have been added to ASBFEO’s set of responsibilities:\n- December 2018 - ASBFEO began administering mediation adviser and dispute resolution\nadviser services under the franchising, horticulture, and oil codes of conduct.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- The Ombudsman is also able to provide assistance in relation to court cases that may involve cost\norders, by advising on the preparation of a case for a no adverse costs order under ss82(4) of the\nCompetition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), should one be made in subsequent legal proceedings.13\nASBFEO’s ADR function is a “No Adverse Costs Order” jurisdiction, where the individual lodging the\ncomplaint will not be liable for any financial loss or damage as a result of the ADR proceedings.14\n12 ASBFEO Act s15(a)\n13 Ibid s15(c)\n14 Ibid s91A\n30\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [Page 25]\nTimeline – Key Events\nFIGURE 1: TIMELINE SHOWING MINISTERIAL, PORTFOLIO AND OMBUDSMAN CHANGES; FUNCTION INTEGRATIONS AND THE 2017 REVIEW\n25\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n\n### Strategic Priorities\n\n- 8.2.2 The Sendai Framework proposes that national institutions, such as large corporations,\nprofessional associations, financial institutions, regulators and philanthropic foundations have\na critical role in integrating disaster risk management and preparedness, including business\ncontinuity support for micro, small and medium sized enterprises.82\n8.2.3 Supporting business planning and continuity should be done by:\n• engaging in awareness raising and training\n• engaging in and supporting research and innovation, and technological development\nfor disaster risk management\n• sharing and disseminating knowledge, practices and non-sensitive data\n• actively participating, as appropriate and under the guidance of the public sector, in the\ndevelopment of normative frameworks and technical standards that incorporate\ndisaster risk management.83\n8.2.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- Recommendation 12.1 State and territory governments, working with local\nRoadside vegetation governments and fire and emergency service agencies, should\nmanagement ensure that there are appropriate arrangements for roadside\nvegetation management that take into account, among other\nthings:\n1. priority access and egress routes\n2. road priority, utility and strategic value\n3. cost, and\n4.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [pages 15,16,17]\nements to include federal and state\nparticipation given these jurisdictions’ anticipated role in any disaster response\n• pre-deployment of resilience and recovery assets\n• priority-critical infrastructure hardening\n• interest-free loans for asset protection, property enhancement, and\nactivity/property relocation schemes\n• enhanced small and family business preparedness and resilience support\n• incentives for business continuity planning and provisioning\n• measures to address acute ‘moral hazard’ issues\n• tailored insurance products including ‘like for right’ coverage\n• greater support for the use of local government rating systems to recover\ninvestments across the serviceable life of works and asset improvements.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 35]\nBarriers to Preparedness | Inquiry Report\nAccess Economics28 showing that of all money spent by governments on disasters in Australia,\n97% is spent after the event with only 3% spent in preparedness.\n‘Spending on disaster mitigation, an essential component of improving insurance affordability, fits neatly\nwith the government use of infrastructure spending as an economic stimulus tool.’\nInsurance Council of Australia Report – Page 11\n4.2.2 A recent report commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia shows that a proposed five-\nyear $2 billion investment program to reduce cyclone, flood, bushfire and coastal risks\ncommencing in 2022 could be expected to reduce financial, health and social costs to the\nAustralian Government and Australian households by at least $19 billion by 2050.29\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- Because of this, some businesses reported paying an extremely high price, or not obtaining insurance at\nall.’\nAIG Survey Sept 2020 in ICA Report – Page 40\n5.1.8 The Regional Australia Institute has also acknowledged this issue, stating in their Disaster\nRecovery and Resilience Policy Guide 2021 that ‘…the increasing scale and frequency of natural\ndisasters in Australia means that premiums are rising, leading many businesses to either risk\nhaving no insurance at all, or at least underestimating the scale of potential loss and hence\nunder-insuring’.36\n5.1.9 The Insurance Council of Australia argues that the tax system currently hinders insurance\ncoverage, noting that depending on the state or territory, government charges can add 20 to 40\npercent on top of the cost of an insurance premium, leading to underinsurance or non-\ninsurance.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 5.1.11 Indeed, the Royal Commission highlighted the need for insurers to communicate to consumers\n(including small and family businesses) clear guidance on individual-level natural hazard risk\nmitigation actions insurers will actually recognise in setting insurance premiums.40\n5.1.12 An inability to access affordable insurance and the plight of small and family businesses\noperating in disaster-prone areas, where insurance is simply not offered on any terms\n35 Insurance Australia Group, The Backbone of Regional and Rural Economies: Small Business and Community\nResilience, November 2021.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 5.1.18 Once appropriately designated a disaster prone area, these communities could have access to\nall or some of the following measures:\n• participation in a government-backed reinsurance vehicle, perhaps modelled on the\nUK’s Flood Re\n• priority for monitoring and mitigation expenditure\n• relaxation of matched funding requirements to access support grants\n• enhanced disaster planning arrangements to include Federal and state participation\ngiven these jurisdictions’ anticipated role in any disaster response\n• pre-deployment of resilience and recovery assets\n• priority-critical infrastructure hardening\n• interest-free loans for asset protection, property enhancement, and activity/property\nrelocation schemes\nAustralian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman | Inquiry Report 39\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 5.2.4 The report recommends that governments:\n• better protect against floods by raising utilities and services above the expected flood\nline, and invest in an improved national flood early warning system that is estimated to\nincrease the lead time for flood warnings from 3-5 days to 10-15 days\n• implement a program of selective reduction of fuel in forests\n• review land use planning arrangements and establish a national natural peril data\ncentre to enable better planning by governments and developers\n• amend national building codes to include a resilience and future risk standard.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [pages 40,41]\nhe expected flood\nline, and invest in an improved national flood early warning system that is estimated to\nincrease the lead time for flood warnings from 3-5 days to 10-15 days\n• implement a program of selective reduction of fuel in forests\n• review land use planning arrangements and establish a national natural peril data\ncentre to enable better planning by governments and developers\n• amend national building codes to include a resilience and future risk standard.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- They provide jobs and employment, improve the quality of life for residents, help\nto create a vibrant community, provide economic opportunities, attract investment to the\nregion, and in some instances help to encourage migration to the bush.52\n6.1.6 This criticality of the small and family business community is recognised in the current Disaster\nRecovery Funding Arrangement, which points to the need for support for small and family\nbusinesses where there is a risk that the community will lose essential businesses,53 although\nthere is little acknowledgement of this in other disaster prevention activities with stakeholders\npointing to the 2018 National Risk Reduction Framework as largely overlooking small\nbusinesses.54\n6.1.7 The nature of the DRFA and event classification and variations in elements of the response and\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n\n## KPIs, Targets, and Where They Are At\n\n- The Ombudsman is also able to provide assistance in relation to court cases that may involve cost\norders, by advising on the preparation of a case for a no adverse costs order under ss82(4) of the\nCompetition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), should one be made in subsequent legal proceedings.13\nASBFEO’s ADR function is a “No Adverse Costs Order” jurisdiction, where the individual lodging the\ncomplaint will not be liable for any financial loss or damage as a result of the ADR proceedings.14\n12 ASBFEO Act s15(a)\n13 Ibid s15(c)\n14 Ibid s91A\n30\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- 3.3.7 The Royal Commission report notes that most volunteer firefighting members do not want\ndirect payment, but that they can face financial challenges as a result of volunteering,\nespecially during long campaigns.9\n3.3.8 This is equally true of small and family businesses who may be required to release a critical or\nexperienced team member (or members) for an extended period, or in extreme cases may need\nto close the business or reduce operations due to many employees being taken up in volunteer\nactivities.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- The sensitive nature of this topic has been recently highlighted\nby the commentary by the Coordinator General of the NRRA in relation to the February and\nMarch 2022 natural disasters.47\n5.2.16 There is precedent for effectively moving towns, or parts of particularly disaster-prone towns in\nAustralia.48 While such an action is likely to be considered at the extreme end of natural disaster\npreparedness, a failure to invest in infrastructure hardening and other preparedness and\nresilience measures may result in consideration of such measures increasing into the future.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- ASBFEO reports that since\ncommencement in March 2019, it has received 763 contacts relating to this service.4\n- March 2019 – the Act was amended to give the Ombudsman the power to give direct\nassistance to small business in obtaining a ‘no adverse costs’ order in proceedings to\nrecover the amount of any loss or damage as a result of contraventions of the Competition\nand Consumer Act 2010.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [pages 20,21,22,23]\nresult of contraventions of the Competition\nand Consumer Act 2010.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [pages 76,77,78,79,80]\nto infer that the publication of data was a result of ASBFEO’s recommendations.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [Page 35]\nBarriers to Preparedness | Inquiry Report\nAccess Economics28 showing that of all money spent by governments on disasters in Australia,\n97% is spent after the event with only 3% spent in preparedness.\n‘Spending on disaster mitigation, an essential component of improving insurance affordability, fits neatly\nwith the government use of infrastructure spending as an economic stimulus tool.’\nInsurance Council of Australia Report – Page 11\n4.2.2 A recent report commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia shows that a proposed five-\nyear $2 billion investment program to reduce cyclone, flood, bushfire and coastal risks\ncommencing in 2022 could be expected to reduce financial, health and social costs to the\nAustralian Government and Australian households by at least $19 billion by 2050.29\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- Because of this, some businesses reported paying an extremely high price, or not obtaining insurance at\nall.’\nAIG Survey Sept 2020 in ICA Report – Page 40\n5.1.8 The Regional Australia Institute has also acknowledged this issue, stating in their Disaster\nRecovery and Resilience Policy Guide 2021 that ‘…the increasing scale and frequency of natural\ndisasters in Australia means that premiums are rising, leading many businesses to either risk\nhaving no insurance at all, or at least underestimating the scale of potential loss and hence\nunder-insuring’.36\n5.1.9 The Insurance Council of Australia argues that the tax system currently hinders insurance\ncoverage, noting that depending on the state or territory, government charges can add 20 to 40\npercent on top of the cost of an insurance premium, leading to underinsurance or non-\ninsurance.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 5.1.11 Indeed, the Royal Commission highlighted the need for insurers to communicate to consumers\n(including small and family businesses) clear guidance on individual-level natural hazard risk\nmitigation actions insurers will actually recognise in setting insurance premiums.40\n5.1.12 An inability to access affordable insurance and the plight of small and family businesses\noperating in disaster-prone areas, where insurance is simply not offered on any terms\n35 Insurance Australia Group, The Backbone of Regional and Rural Economies: Small Business and Community\nResilience, November 2021.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 5.2.4 The report recommends that governments:\n• better protect against floods by raising utilities and services above the expected flood\nline, and invest in an improved national flood early warning system that is estimated to\nincrease the lead time for flood warnings from 3-5 days to 10-15 days\n• implement a program of selective reduction of fuel in forests\n• review land use planning arrangements and establish a national natural peril data\ncentre to enable better planning by governments and developers\n• amend national building codes to include a resilience and future risk standard.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [pages 40,41]\nhe expected flood\nline, and invest in an improved national flood early warning system that is estimated to\nincrease the lead time for flood warnings from 3-5 days to 10-15 days\n• implement a program of selective reduction of fuel in forests\n• review land use planning arrangements and establish a national natural peril data\ncentre to enable better planning by governments and developers\n• amend national building codes to include a resilience and future risk standard.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- They provide jobs and employment, improve the quality of life for residents, help\nto create a vibrant community, provide economic opportunities, attract investment to the\nregion, and in some instances help to encourage migration to the bush.52\n6.1.6 This criticality of the small and family business community is recognised in the current Disaster\nRecovery Funding Arrangement, which points to the need for support for small and family\nbusinesses where there is a risk that the community will lose essential businesses,53 although\nthere is little acknowledgement of this in other disaster prevention activities with stakeholders\npointing to the 2018 National Risk Reduction Framework as largely overlooking small\nbusinesses.54\n6.1.7 The nature of the DRFA and event classification and variations in elements of the response and\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 6.1.10 As recognised by the Royal Commission,55 ensuring certainty of support measures including\nrelief funding, will allow small and family businesses and family enterprises, including sole-\ntraders, an opportunity to better plan, be prepared, and be more resilient in the event of a\nnatural disaster.\n‘The purpose of a recovery plan should be to provide immediate relief to stay afloat, retain staff, and\nrecover the business that could take several years.’\nSmall Business Association of Australia Submission – Page 3\n6.1.11 In any community, people need jobs, and communities need goods and services.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- The NRRA is a leading reform and national leadership and strategic\ncoordination in disaster recovery, resilience and risk reduction informed by a locally led\napproach that assists individuals, businesses and communities to recover from disasters and\nbe better prepared in the future.74\n7.2.2 The NRRA is responsible for several policies and programs including the Preparing Australia\nProgram, Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, The Rural Financial Counselling Service\n(RFCS), the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, recovery from the 2019-20 Black\nSummer Bushfires and the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon Trough, and delivery of a range of\nrecommendations from the Royal Commission.75\n7.2.3 The NRRA works with policy delivery departments, including the Treasury for small and family\nbusiness policy and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) for\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n\n## Key Metrics\n\n| Values found | Evidence | Source |\n|---|---|---|\n| $2 billion, $19 billion, 2 billion, 19 billion | [Page 35]\nBarriers to Preparedness \\| Inquiry Report\nAccess Economics28 showing that of all money spent by governments on disasters in Australia,\n97% is spent after the event with only 3% spent in preparedness.\n‘Spending on disaster mitigation, an essential component of improving insurance affordability, fits neatly\nwith the government use of infrastructure spending as an economic stimulus tool.’\nInsurance Council of Australia Report – Page 11\n4.2 | `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)` |\n| $20 million, $10 million, 20 million, 10 million | The recent budget acknowledged this complexity by providing $20 million for the Fair Work Ombudsman to\nhelp smaller employers comply with the increasingly complex workplace laws and $10 million to assist smaller\nemployers with administering the revised paid parental leave scheme. | `other-pdfs/Energising-20Enterprise-20--2014-20Steps-20to-20boost-20Australia-27s-20small-20.pdf (https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/Energising%20Enterprise%20-%2014%20Steps%20to%20boost%20Australia%27s%20small%20and%20family%20businesses.pdf)` |\n| $2 billion, $200 million, $19 billion, 2 billion, 200 million, 19 billion | 4.2.6 The Insurance Council of Australia proposes that a $2 billion investment over 5 years to protect\nAustralia from cyclone, flood, bushfire and coastal risks in the form of $200 million invested\nannually by the Australian Government with matched funding from the states and territories\nwill produce in excess of $19 billion in returns by 2050, a return on investment exceeding 9.6.32\nAs impressive as this economic analysis is, it is hard to overs | `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)` |\n| $600 billion, 600 billion | In the 1980s there were twice as many small\ngenerate nearly $600 billion of economic activity business owners aged between 30 and 49 as there were\naccounting for 33% of our nation’s GDP. aged over 50. | `other-pdfs/Energising-20Enterprise-20--2014-20Steps-20to-20boost-20Australia-27s-20small-20.pdf (https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/Energising%20Enterprise%20-%2014%20Steps%20to%20boost%20Australia%27s%20small%20and%20family%20businesses.pdf)` |\n| $5 billion, 5 billion | Importantly, eligible expenditure includes restoring public\ninfrastructure to pre-disaster condition and replacing or repairing basic, essential property of\nsmall and family business and farmsteads.124\n8.5.4 Since the inception of the program in 1970, the Government of Canada has paid out more than\n$5 billion in post-disaster assistance to help provinces and territories with the costs of response\nand of returning infrastructure and personal prope | `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)` |\n| $3.375 billion, $3.729 billion, 3.375 billion, 3.729 billion | Launched in 2018, DMAF has commitments of CAD$3.375 billion\n(AUD$3.729 billion) to invest large-scale in structural and natural infrastructure projects to\nincrease the resilience of communities that are impacted by natural disaster triggered by\nclimate change. | `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)` |\n| $1 million, $20\nmillion, 1 million, 20\nmillion | Unlike the DFAA and NDMP, for-profit organisations can be eligible recipients\nof DMAF (working in partnership with a province or territory, or public sector body with a\nstream that is allocatable to projects with eligible costs between CAD$1 million and CAD$20\nmillion.129\n8.5.13 Despite this stream allowing for projects that could within the reach of small and family\nbusiness working with government, small and family businesses are not singled ou | `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)` |\n| $20 million, $10 million, 20 million, 10 million | [pages 11,12,13]\nd this complexity by providing $20 million for the Fair Work Ombudsman to\nhelp smaller employers comply with the increasingly complex workplace laws and $10 million to assist smaller\nemployers with administering the revised paid parental leave scheme. | `other-pdfs/Energising-20Enterprise-20--2014-20Steps-20to-20boost-20Australia-27s-20small-20.pdf (https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/Energising%20Enterprise%20-%2014%20Steps%20to%20boost%20Australia%27s%20small%20and%20family%20businesses.pdf)` |\n| $75 billion, $8 billion, 75 billion, 8 billion | The Australian Government procured\ngoods and services worth $75 billion in 2022-23 yet small business suppliers accounted for only $8 billion, or 11%,\nby value. | `other-pdfs/Energising-20Enterprise-20--2014-20Steps-20to-20boost-20Australia-27s-20small-20.pdf (https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/Energising%20Enterprise%20-%2014%20Steps%20to%20boost%20Australia%27s%20small%20and%20family%20businesses.pdf)` |\n| $2 billion, $19 billion, 2 billion, 19 billion | A recent report commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia shows a\nproposed five-year $2 billion investment program to reduce cyclone, flood, bushfire, and\ncoastal risks could reduce financial, health and social costs to the Australian Government and\nAustralian households by at least $19 billion by 2050. | `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)` |\n| $10,000 , $25,000 m | DRFA Category C measures are ‘…a community\nrecovery package that is intended to support a holistic approach to the recovery of regions,\ncommunities or sectors severely affected by an eligible disaster…’.59\n6.2.7 DRFA Category C measures include recovery grants for small and family businesses where the\nbusiness sector is severely affected and the community risks losing essential businesses and\nmust be approved by the Prime Minister.60 Recovery gra | `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)` |\n| $2 billion, $19 billion, 2 billion, 19 billion | [Page 35]\nBarriers to Preparedness \\| Inquiry Report\nAccess Economics28 showing that of all money spent by governments on disasters in Australia,\n97% is spent after the event with only 3% spent in preparedness.\n‘Spending on disaster mitigation, an essential component of improving insurance affordability, fits neatly\nwith the government use of infrastructure spending as an economic stimulus tool.’\nInsurance Council of Australia Report – Page 11\n4.2 | `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)` |\n\n## Key Achievements\n\n- 8.2.15 The OECD suggests ‘budget tagging’ as a method of incentivising policy makers across multiple\nlevels of government to incorporate resilience considerations into their decisions, and to also\nfind ‘areas of synergies and gaps to fill’ in small business resilience spending.93\n8.2.16 The recently released UN conference on trade and development paper examining the impact of\nCOVID on micro, small, and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), highlights how disasters can\ntrigger changes in market composition and produce competition-related challenges, especially\nimpacting on smaller enterprises.94 The paper highlights how the eventual recovery of\neconomies requires the restoration of market access and competition policy influences to\nensure MSMEs can again retain or gain access to markets and consumers.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 61]\nInternational Best Practice | Inquiry Report\n8.4.8 Ready Business also provides a page (ready.gov) of scalable and practical actions for leaders in\nthe business community to build disaster resilience in their businesses and communities and\nlinks to external tools to assist.108 This page and the Ready Business Toolkits are completed by\nthe Program Administration and Implementation page which provides short suggestions for\ncreating frameworks around which to build a business-specific disaster response plan.109 Topics\ncovered include budget, administration procedures, record management, business continuity\nplans, training and emergency response plans and is supported with further resources.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 5.1.5 The aspiration to ‘build back better’ has been raised again in the context of the February/March\n2022 floods in New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland with calls to incentivise this\nsort of rebuilding activity as a key aspect of future preparedness and resilience.33 Following\nbushfires, many older premises need to be rebuilt to requirements for construction under\nAustralian Standard AS 3959-2009 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas, the\nrequirements of which are based on Bushfire Attack Levels that were implemented in 2009.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- Resilient 2030 was a partnership with each of Canada’s provincial and territorial governments\nand other relevant organisations.130\n8.5.17 Unfortunately, in Resilient 2030 and other key Government of Canada documents on disaster\nresilience, such as Measuring Progress on Adaptation and Climate Resilience: Recommendations\nto the Government of Canada small business is not recognised as a key partner or vulnerable\npopulation in Canada’s national disaster conversation.131\n8.5.18 The Canadian Government also provides a ‘Get Prepared’ website which provides information\nand advice to consumers and small businesses about emergencies experienced in Canada\n(avalanches, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, severe storms, storm surges,\ntornadoes, tsunamis and wildfires).132\n8.5.19 Approximately 8,000 wildfires occur in Canada each year with an average area burned of 2.5\nmillion hectares.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 81]\nAttachment D | Recommendations | Inquiry Report\nmitigation of risks to 1. identify critical infrastructure\ncritical infrastructure\n2. assess key risks to identified critical infrastructure from\nnatural disasters of national scale or consequence\n3. identify steps needed to mitigate these risks\n4. identify steps to make the critical infrastructure more\nresilient, and track achievement against an agreed plan\nRecommendation 9.5 The Australian Government should work with state and territory\nImproving coordination governments and critical infrastructure operators to improve\narrangements between information flows during and in response to natural disasters:\ncritical infrastructure\n1. between critical infrastructure operators, and\nsectors and with\ngovernment 2. between critical infrastructure operators and\ngovernment.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 03 Dec 2025\nMedia Releases\nSmall businesses renewal accelerates as owners embrace growth and transformation\nKey highlights: ASBFEO Small Business Pulse November 2025The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse increased by 0.8% in the three months to November 2025 – the…\n09 Oct 2025\nMedia Releases\nGHG EMISSIONS REPORTING MAY IMPACT SMEs SOONER THAN EXPECTED\nJOINT MEDIA RELEASE: Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman and Chartered Accountants Australia & New ZealandSmall to medium…\n18 Sep 2025\nMedia Releases\nCelebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of family owned businesses on National Family Business Day, 19 September\nFamily owned businesses play a crucial role in the economy and our communities.\n Source: `pages/media-releases-index.html (http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases)`\n- 26 February 2026\nResilience, realism and resolve shape the small business outlook\nFebruary 2026\nKey highlights:\nThe ASBFEO Small Business Pulse increased by 0.1% in the three months to February 2026, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly increase, and is 1.2% higher than the same time last year.\n Source: `pages/media-releases-index__07.html (http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/february-2026-small-business-pulse-resilience-realism-and-resolve-shape)`\n- The table below shows the number of times each of these pathways a matter\nhas followed over the Review Period.18, 19\nResolution 2017- 2018- 2019- Total by % by\n2018 2019 2020 Type Type\nReferred to appropriate agency 814 2,413 763 3,990 25.3%\nReferred to state Small Business 772 501 602 1,875 11.9%\nCommissioners\nResolved by ASBFEO direct action 103 126 203 432 2.7%\nResolved by ASBFEO with provision 1,208 2,101 4,216 7,525 47.8%\nof information or referral to\nprofessional advice\nCase in progress with ASBFEO 62 1,376 191 1,629 10.3%\nReferred to alternative dispute 34 85 189 308 2.0%\nresolution\nTOTAL 2,993 6,602 6,164 15,759 100.0%\nRequests for assistance are obtained via an online assistance form featured on ASBFEO’s website or\nvia ASBFEO’s information line phone number.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [Page 69]\nAppendix “E”- Quarterly and Annual Report Analysis\nASBFEO Resolution Pathways (Extracted from Annual Reports)\n16-17 17-18 18-19 19-20 TOTAL\nReferred to Appropriate Agency 634 814 2413 763 4624 (26.8%)\nReferred to State SB Comm 303 772 501 602 2178 (12.6%)\nResolved by ASBFEO Direct Action 267 103 126 203 699 (4.1%)\nASBFEO Provided Information or\n199 1208 2101 4216 7724 (44.8%)\nReferred to Professional Service\nCase in Progress with ASBFEO 78 62 1376 191 1707 (9.9%)\nReferred to ADR 17 34 85 189 325 (1.9%)\nTOTAL 1498 2993 6602 6164\n17257 (100%)\n(8.7%) (17.3%) (38.3%) (35.7%)\nDisclaimer\nWhile every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this report, no\nguarantee is given, nor responsibility taken by the Independent Reviewer for errors or omissions.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [pages 69,70,71]\n(12.6%)\nResolved by ASBFEO Direct Action 267 103 126 203 699 (4.1%)\nASBFEO Provided Information or\n199 1208 2101 4216 7724 (44.8%)\nReferred to Professional Service\nCase in Progress with ASBFEO 78 62 1376 191 1707 (9.9%)\nReferred to ADR 17 34 85 189 325 (1.9%)\nTOTAL 1498 2993 6602 6164\n17257 (100%)\n(8.7%) (17.3%) (38.3%) (35.7%)\nDisclaimer\nWhile every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this report, no\nguarantee is given, nor responsibility taken by the Independent Reviewer for errors or omissions.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- The Royal Commission highlights that there are over 200,000 volunteer\nemergency responders nationally.8\n3.3.6 Many of these volunteers work in the small and family businesses that underpin regional\ncommunities, and while small and family business owners are supportive of their volunteer\nemployees, and are often volunteers themselves, consideration needs to be given to the impact\nof high levels of extended volunteerism on the preparedness and resilience of small and family\nbusinesses.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 35]\nBarriers to Preparedness | Inquiry Report\nAccess Economics28 showing that of all money spent by governments on disasters in Australia,\n97% is spent after the event with only 3% spent in preparedness.\n‘Spending on disaster mitigation, an essential component of improving insurance affordability, fits neatly\nwith the government use of infrastructure spending as an economic stimulus tool.’\nInsurance Council of Australia Report – Page 11\n4.2.2 A recent report commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia shows that a proposed five-\nyear $2 billion investment program to reduce cyclone, flood, bushfire and coastal risks\ncommencing in 2022 could be expected to reduce financial, health and social costs to the\nAustralian Government and Australian households by at least $19 billion by 2050.29\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n\n## Key Issues, Risks, and Recommendations\n\n- Because of this, some businesses reported paying an extremely high price, or not obtaining insurance at\nall.’\nAIG Survey Sept 2020 in ICA Report – Page 40\n5.1.8 The Regional Australia Institute has also acknowledged this issue, stating in their Disaster\nRecovery and Resilience Policy Guide 2021 that ‘…the increasing scale and frequency of natural\ndisasters in Australia means that premiums are rising, leading many businesses to either risk\nhaving no insurance at all, or at least underestimating the scale of potential loss and hence\nunder-insuring’.36\n5.1.9 The Insurance Council of Australia argues that the tax system currently hinders insurance\ncoverage, noting that depending on the state or territory, government charges can add 20 to 40\npercent on top of the cost of an insurance premium, leading to underinsurance or non-\ninsurance.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- The NRRA is a leading reform and national leadership and strategic\ncoordination in disaster recovery, resilience and risk reduction informed by a locally led\napproach that assists individuals, businesses and communities to recover from disasters and\nbe better prepared in the future.74\n7.2.2 The NRRA is responsible for several policies and programs including the Preparing Australia\nProgram, Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, The Rural Financial Counselling Service\n(RFCS), the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, recovery from the 2019-20 Black\nSummer Bushfires and the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon Trough, and delivery of a range of\nrecommendations from the Royal Commission.75\n7.2.3 The NRRA works with policy delivery departments, including the Treasury for small and family\nbusiness policy and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) for\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- Several findings were made\nincluding a lack of whole-of-government coordination and inability of some provincial and\nterritorial governments and first nations communities to fully participate.128\n8.5.10 The evaluation made four recommendations, that the Government of Canada:\n1. consider better aligning any future disaster mitigation program timelines and processes\nwith the provincial and territorial governments and streamline administrative and\nreporting requirements to facilitate participation by all eligible recipients\n2. examine existing requirements for structural mitigation projects (Stream 4) including\nexploring potential options relating to the time limit, to reflect the realities of planning\nand completing structural mitigation projects\n3. further promote the use of the national risk and resilience tools and repository among\nrelevant audiences\n4.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 83]\nAttachment D | Recommendations | Inquiry Report\nRecommendation 19.4 The Australian Building Codes Board, working with other bodies\nNational Construction as appropriate, should:\nCode\n1. assess the extent to which AS 3959:2018 Construction of\nbuildings in bushfire-prone areas, and other relevant\nbuilding standards, are effective in reducing risk from\nnatural hazards to lives and property, and\n2. conduct an evaluation as to whether the National\nConstruction Code should be amended to specifically\ninclude, as an objective of the code, making buildings\nmore resilient to natural hazards.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 80]\nAttachment D | Recommendations | Inquiry Report\nRoyal Commission Recommendations Relevant for Small\nBusiness\nRecommendation 3.4 Australian Government agencies should work together across all\nIntegrating disaster phases of disaster management.\nmanagement of the\nAustralian Government\nRecommendation 3.5 The Australian Government should establish a standing entity\nEstablishing a standing that will enhance national natural disaster resilience and\nresilience and recovery recovery, focused on long-term disaster risk reduction.\nentity\nRecommendation 3.6 The Australian Government should enhance national\nEnhanced national preparedness for, and response to, natural disasters, building on\npreparedness and the responsibilities of Emergency Management Australia, to\nresponse entity include facilitating resource sharing decisions of governments\nand stress testing national disaster plans.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 81]\nAttachment D | Recommendations | Inquiry Report\nmitigation of risks to 1. identify critical infrastructure\ncritical infrastructure\n2. assess key risks to identified critical infrastructure from\nnatural disasters of national scale or consequence\n3. identify steps needed to mitigate these risks\n4. identify steps to make the critical infrastructure more\nresilient, and track achievement against an agreed plan\nRecommendation 9.5 The Australian Government should work with state and territory\nImproving coordination governments and critical infrastructure operators to improve\narrangements between information flows during and in response to natural disasters:\ncritical infrastructure\n1. between critical infrastructure operators, and\nsectors and with\ngovernment 2. between critical infrastructure operators and\ngovernment.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [pages 19,20]\nRouting policy insights on the ASBFEO’s Least Cost Routing webpage\n• the wicked insurance challenge for small business, in the ASBFEO’s Excessive insurance premiums are killing\nsmall businesses opinion piece\n• how right-sized regulation is crucial to robust competition, productivity and employment in the ASBFEO’s\nsubmission to the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards review 2023-24 (PDF)\n• our recommendations on the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 in the\nASBFEO’s submission to the Senate Education and Employment Committee (PDF)\n• how small business needs a better deal from digital platforms in the ASBFEO’s Big tech laziness is hurting\nsmall Australian businesses opinion piece\nAustralian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman | Energising Enterprise 17\n Source: `other-pdfs/Energising-20Enterprise-20--2014-20Steps-20to-20boost-20Australia-27s-20small-20.pdf (https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/Energising%20Enterprise%20-%2014%20Steps%20to%20boost%20Australia%27s%20small%20and%20family%20businesses.pdf)`\n- [Page 35]\nBarriers to Preparedness | Inquiry Report\nAccess Economics28 showing that of all money spent by governments on disasters in Australia,\n97% is spent after the event with only 3% spent in preparedness.\n‘Spending on disaster mitigation, an essential component of improving insurance affordability, fits neatly\nwith the government use of infrastructure spending as an economic stimulus tool.’\nInsurance Council of Australia Report – Page 11\n4.2.2 A recent report commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia shows that a proposed five-\nyear $2 billion investment program to reduce cyclone, flood, bushfire and coastal risks\ncommencing in 2022 could be expected to reduce financial, health and social costs to the\nAustralian Government and Australian households by at least $19 billion by 2050.29\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 5.1.11 Indeed, the Royal Commission highlighted the need for insurers to communicate to consumers\n(including small and family businesses) clear guidance on individual-level natural hazard risk\nmitigation actions insurers will actually recognise in setting insurance premiums.40\n5.1.12 An inability to access affordable insurance and the plight of small and family businesses\noperating in disaster-prone areas, where insurance is simply not offered on any terms\n35 Insurance Australia Group, The Backbone of Regional and Rural Economies: Small Business and Community\nResilience, November 2021.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 5.2.4 The report recommends that governments:\n• better protect against floods by raising utilities and services above the expected flood\nline, and invest in an improved national flood early warning system that is estimated to\nincrease the lead time for flood warnings from 3-5 days to 10-15 days\n• implement a program of selective reduction of fuel in forests\n• review land use planning arrangements and establish a national natural peril data\ncentre to enable better planning by governments and developers\n• amend national building codes to include a resilience and future risk standard.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [pages 40,41]\nhe expected flood\nline, and invest in an improved national flood early warning system that is estimated to\nincrease the lead time for flood warnings from 3-5 days to 10-15 days\n• implement a program of selective reduction of fuel in forests\n• review land use planning arrangements and establish a national natural peril data\ncentre to enable better planning by governments and developers\n• amend national building codes to include a resilience and future risk standard.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- They provide jobs and employment, improve the quality of life for residents, help\nto create a vibrant community, provide economic opportunities, attract investment to the\nregion, and in some instances help to encourage migration to the bush.52\n6.1.6 This criticality of the small and family business community is recognised in the current Disaster\nRecovery Funding Arrangement, which points to the need for support for small and family\nbusinesses where there is a risk that the community will lose essential businesses,53 although\nthere is little acknowledgement of this in other disaster prevention activities with stakeholders\npointing to the 2018 National Risk Reduction Framework as largely overlooking small\nbusinesses.54\n6.1.7 The nature of the DRFA and event classification and variations in elements of the response and\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 8.2.2 The Sendai Framework proposes that national institutions, such as large corporations,\nprofessional associations, financial institutions, regulators and philanthropic foundations have\na critical role in integrating disaster risk management and preparedness, including business\ncontinuity support for micro, small and medium sized enterprises.82\n8.2.3 Supporting business planning and continuity should be done by:\n• engaging in awareness raising and training\n• engaging in and supporting research and innovation, and technological development\nfor disaster risk management\n• sharing and disseminating knowledge, practices and non-sensitive data\n• actively participating, as appropriate and under the guidance of the public sector, in the\ndevelopment of normative frameworks and technical standards that incorporate\ndisaster risk management.83\n8.2.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 8.2.9 The UN suggests that media organisations should adopt specific disaster risk reduction\ncommunications policies; support (as appropriate) early warning systems and life-saving\nprotective measures; and stimulate a culture of prevention and strong community involvement\nin sustained public education campaigns and public consultations at all levels of society, in\naccordance with national practices.87\n8.2.10 The Australian media, in particular the Australian Broadcasting Corporation already\ncontributes to a national culture of disaster preparedness, albeit primarily aimed at individuals\nand households rather than small and family businesses.88 There may be scope for the\nAustralian Government to work with other Australian media organisations, particularly those\nwith large small and family business operator readerships, to increase amplify messaging\naround increasing disaster resilience.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n\n## Corporate Values and Operating Culture\n\n- Recommendation 12.1 State and territory governments, working with local\nRoadside vegetation governments and fire and emergency service agencies, should\nmanagement ensure that there are appropriate arrangements for roadside\nvegetation management that take into account, among other\nthings:\n1. priority access and egress routes\n2. road priority, utility and strategic value\n3. cost, and\n4.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 69]\nAppendix “E”- Quarterly and Annual Report Analysis\nASBFEO Resolution Pathways (Extracted from Annual Reports)\n16-17 17-18 18-19 19-20 TOTAL\nReferred to Appropriate Agency 634 814 2413 763 4624 (26.8%)\nReferred to State SB Comm 303 772 501 602 2178 (12.6%)\nResolved by ASBFEO Direct Action 267 103 126 203 699 (4.1%)\nASBFEO Provided Information or\n199 1208 2101 4216 7724 (44.8%)\nReferred to Professional Service\nCase in Progress with ASBFEO 78 62 1376 191 1707 (9.9%)\nReferred to ADR 17 34 85 189 325 (1.9%)\nTOTAL 1498 2993 6602 6164\n17257 (100%)\n(8.7%) (17.3%) (38.3%) (35.7%)\nDisclaimer\nWhile every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this report, no\nguarantee is given, nor responsibility taken by the Independent Reviewer for errors or omissions.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [pages 69,70,71]\n(12.6%)\nResolved by ASBFEO Direct Action 267 103 126 203 699 (4.1%)\nASBFEO Provided Information or\n199 1208 2101 4216 7724 (44.8%)\nReferred to Professional Service\nCase in Progress with ASBFEO 78 62 1376 191 1707 (9.9%)\nReferred to ADR 17 34 85 189 325 (1.9%)\nTOTAL 1498 2993 6602 6164\n17257 (100%)\n(8.7%) (17.3%) (38.3%) (35.7%)\nDisclaimer\nWhile every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this report, no\nguarantee is given, nor responsibility taken by the Independent Reviewer for errors or omissions.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n- [Page 35]\nBarriers to Preparedness | Inquiry Report\nAccess Economics28 showing that of all money spent by governments on disasters in Australia,\n97% is spent after the event with only 3% spent in preparedness.\n‘Spending on disaster mitigation, an essential component of improving insurance affordability, fits neatly\nwith the government use of infrastructure spending as an economic stimulus tool.’\nInsurance Council of Australia Report – Page 11\n4.2.2 A recent report commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia shows that a proposed five-\nyear $2 billion investment program to reduce cyclone, flood, bushfire and coastal risks\ncommencing in 2022 could be expected to reduce financial, health and social costs to the\nAustralian Government and Australian households by at least $19 billion by 2050.29\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- The NRRA is a leading reform and national leadership and strategic\ncoordination in disaster recovery, resilience and risk reduction informed by a locally led\napproach that assists individuals, businesses and communities to recover from disasters and\nbe better prepared in the future.74\n7.2.2 The NRRA is responsible for several policies and programs including the Preparing Australia\nProgram, Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, The Rural Financial Counselling Service\n(RFCS), the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, recovery from the 2019-20 Black\nSummer Bushfires and the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon Trough, and delivery of a range of\nrecommendations from the Royal Commission.75\n7.2.3 The NRRA works with policy delivery departments, including the Treasury for small and family\nbusiness policy and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) for\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- 8.2.2 The Sendai Framework proposes that national institutions, such as large corporations,\nprofessional associations, financial institutions, regulators and philanthropic foundations have\na critical role in integrating disaster risk management and preparedness, including business\ncontinuity support for micro, small and medium sized enterprises.82\n8.2.3 Supporting business planning and continuity should be done by:\n• engaging in awareness raising and training\n• engaging in and supporting research and innovation, and technological development\nfor disaster risk management\n• sharing and disseminating knowledge, practices and non-sensitive data\n• actively participating, as appropriate and under the guidance of the public sector, in the\ndevelopment of normative frameworks and technical standards that incorporate\ndisaster risk management.83\n8.2.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- [Page 54]\nAustralian Government Preparedness Initiatives | Inquiry Report\n‘Small business support needs to focus on working with business owners ahead of a disaster; driving\ninvestment in risk reduction and preparedness, particularly in the face of more frequent and intense\nnatural disasters.’\nNational Recovery and Resilience Agency Submission – Page 9\nRural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS)\n7.2.8 The RFCS provides free financial counselling to a range of farmers, fishers, foresters, and small\nrelated enterprises experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.78 The RFCS has a contingency\nreserve built in to provide surge support in the event of a disaster.\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)`\n- ASBFEO reports that since\ncommencement in March 2019, it has received 763 contacts relating to this service.4\n- March 2019 – the Act was amended to give the Ombudsman the power to give direct\nassistance to small business in obtaining a ‘no adverse costs’ order in proceedings to\nrecover the amount of any loss or damage as a result of contraventions of the Competition\nand Consumer Act 2010.\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf (https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf)`\n\n## Global Ideas and Case Study Inputs\n\n_No global-intelligence source text found yet. Run `CLAUDE/global-ideas-scraper.py ` to populate case-study sources._\n\n## Source Artifacts Used\n\n- `strategies/ASBFEO-20Strategic-20Framework.pdf` - strategies - https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf\n- `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf` - reviews - https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf\n- `pages/about.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/about-us\n- `pages/annual-reports-index.html` - pages - https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-10/2020-21-department-of-industry-science-enery-and-resources-annual-report.pdf\n- `pages/homepage.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au\n- `pages/inquiries-index.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/policy-advocacy/policy-insights\n- `pages/inquiries-index__00.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/policy-advocacy/policy-insights/small-business-natural-disaster-preparedness-and-resilience-inquiry\n- `pages/media-releases-index.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases\n- `pages/media-releases-index__01.html` - pages - https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases\n- `pages/media-releases-index__02.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases\n- `pages/media-releases-index__03.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/small-business-data-portal/asbfeo-small-business-pulse\n- `pages/media-releases-index__04.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/asbfeo-marks-10-years-assistance-and-advocacy-australias-small-and\n- `pages/media-releases-index__05.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/recognise-enterprising-women-small-and-family-business-removing-bias\n- `pages/media-releases-index__06.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/asbfeo-calls-improvements-enterprise-environment-enable-small-business\n- `pages/media-releases-index__07.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/february-2026-small-business-pulse-resilience-realism-and-resolve-shape\n- `pages/media-releases-index__08.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/enterprising-australians-deserve-better-spotlight-sole-traders\n- `pages/media-releases-index__09.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/australian-small-business-and-family-enterprise-ombudsman-welcomes\n- `pages/media-releases-index__10.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/small-businesses-renewal-accelerates-owners-embrace-growth-and\n- `pages/media-releases-index__11.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/ghg-emissions-reporting-may-impact-smes-sooner-expected\n- `pages/media-releases-index__12.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/celebrating-entrepreneurial-spirit-family-owned-businesses-national\n- `pages/media-releases-index__13.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/help-small-businesses-thrive-msme-day\n- `pages/media-releases-index__14.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases?page=1\n- `pages/media-releases-index__15.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases?page=2\n- `pages/news-latest.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/media-centre\n- `pages/structure.html` - pages - http://www.asbfeo.gov.au/policy-advocacy\n- `other-pdfs/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pdf` - other-pdfs - https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pdf\n- `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pdf` - other-pdfs - https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/p2021-203908.pdf\n- `other-pdfs/ASBFEO-20Guiding-20Principles_0.pdf` - other-pdfs - https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-06/ASBFEO%20Guiding%20Principles_0.pdf\n- `other-pdfs/Energising-20Enterprise-20--2014-20Steps-20to-20boost-20Australia-27s-20small-20.pdf` - other-pdfs - https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/Energising%20Enterprise%20-%2014%20Steps%20to%20boost%20Australia%27s%20small%20and%20family%20businesses.pdf\n- `other-pdfs/ASBFEO-20Annual-20Plan-20Priorities.pdf` - other-pdfs - https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/ASBFEO%20Annual%20Plan%20Priorities.pdf\n\n## Gaps To Fix\n\n- No corporate plan text source found.\n- No annual report text source found.\n- No global comparison/case-study sources found.", "legislation_md": "# Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman - Acts and Legislation Discovery\n\n**Generated at**: 2026-05-09T21:20:04.495581+00:00\n**Entity ID**: B-003996\n**Jurisdiction**: Commonwealth\n**Portfolio**: Treasury\n\n> This is an evidence-based discovery list from scraped department material. A mention does not always mean the department administers the legislation; high-confidence and official register links should be reviewed.\n\n## Summary\n\n- Source files scanned: 30\n- Unique legislation references found: 11\n\n| Type | Count |\n|---|---:|\n| Act | 10 |\n| Order | 1 |\n\n## Legislation References\n\n### Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: high\n**Mentions**: 9\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Australian+Small+Business+and+Family+Enterprise+Ombudsman+Act+2015\n\n**Sources**:\n- `pages/about.html`\n- `pages/media-releases-index__04.html`\n- `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- `other-pdfs/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pages.jsonl`\n- `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pages.jsonl`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- SBFEO's\nannual plan priorities\n.\nCareers\nFollow us on\nsocial media\nto stay up to date with current job vacancies.\nOur legislation\nThe activities of the Office of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman are governed by the following laws:\nAustralian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015\nUnder the Act, the Minister for Small Business is required to initiate independent reviews of the ASBFEO’s assistance function. The\nfirst independent review\nof the ASBFEO’s functions was required to be completed one year after its establishment, by 30 June 20\n Source: `pages/about.html`\n- n (ASBFEO) is marking 10 years of advocating for small and family businesses, reflecting a decade of practical support, dispute resolution and advocating for fairer rules that allow small and family businesses to start, grow and succeed.\nEstablished under the\nAustralian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015\n, ASBFEO was created to do something simple but vital: level the playing field.\nThe Ombudsman said ASBFEO has matured and is a respected organisation, widely recognised by the small and family business community, industry bodies, regulators, major corporates,\n Source: `pages/media-releases-index__04.html`\n- he timeline\non Pages 25 and 27, below.\nASBFEO undertakes two key functions - assistance and advocacy - with the aim of supporting and\nproviding a voice for the small business and family enterprise sector.\nAssistance Function\nUnder Pt. 2, Div. 1, Sec 13 of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act\n2015 (Cth) (‘the ASBFEO Act’), the assistance function is defined as “to give assistance in relation to\nrelevant actions if requested to do so. ” This function enables the Ombudsman to receive and\nrespond to requests for assistance in relation to small business an\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- Resolution (ADR) by an independent mediator chosen by the parties.2\nThe Ombudsman does not formally adjudicate disputes. However, the Ombudsman has powers to\nrelease statements with names of parties that do not participate in the ADR process. ADR costs are\n1 Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015 (Cth) (‘ASBFEO Act’) s 15.\n2 Ibid s 71.\n19\n\n[page 20]\nshared between parties and are typically a more cost-effective way to resolve disputes (compared to\nformal methods of dispute resolution such as legal proceedings).\nThe Ombudsman works closely with a range\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- n (2017)\nConsumer Law Enforcement and Sub. 21 Cited twice\nAdministration (2017)\nIntellectual Property Arrangements (2016) Sub. DR403 Cited 5 times\n70\n\n[page 71]\nAppendix “G” – Details of ASBFEO’s Assistance Function\nUnder Part 2, Division 1, Section 13 of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise\nOmbudsman Act 2015, the Assistance function of the Ombudsman is to give assistance in relation to\nrelevant actions if requested to do so.37\nASBFEO’s assistance function is available to all small and family businesses to provide assistance in the\nway of dispute resolution servic\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n\n### Competition and Consumer Act 2010\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: high\n**Mentions**: 6\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Competition+and+Consumer+Act+2010\n\n**Sources**:\n- `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- `other-pdfs/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pages.jsonl`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- is service.4\n- March 2019 – the Act was amended to give the Ombudsman the power to give direct\nassistance to small business in obtaining a ‘no adverse costs’ order in proceedings to\nrecover the amount of any loss or damage as a result of contraventions of the Competition\nand Consumer Act 2010. This power came into effect on 1 July 2019.\n- November 2019 – commenced providing assistance to small business engaging with the\nATO’s Compensation for Detriment and Defective Administration Scheme.\nIn addition to the above, ASBFEO also provides ongoing supp\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- conduct surrounding Franchisees, Dairy, Horticulture,\nand Oil.\nThe Ombudsman is also able to provide assistance in relation to court cases that may involve cost\norders, by advising on the preparation of a case for a no adverse costs order under ss82(4) of the\nCompetition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), should one be made in subsequent legal proceedings.13\nASBFEO’s ADR function is a “No Adverse Costs Order” jurisdiction, where the individual lodging the\ncomplaint will not be liable for any financial loss or damage as a result of the ADR proceedings.14\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- ts and deadlines.\nIn the same month of March 2019, the Act was modified to allow the Ombudsman the authority to\ndirectly aid small businesses in securing a no adverse costs order in action to reclaim the value of any\nharm or injury caused by violations of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. This authority went\ninto effect on 1 July 2019.\nThe latest addition to ASBFEO’s responsibilities was in November 2019, where it commenced assisting\nsmall businesses that are part of the ATO's Compensation for Detriment and Defective Administration\nScheme.\nSu\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- n\nmake recommendations about how the dispute may be managed or if an alternative dispute\nresolution process would be a more appropriate option.\nThe Ombudsman is also able to assist in the preparation of a case for a no adverse cost orders under\nss82(4) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). This function is particularly important for\nsmall businesses that may be caught in a legal dispute with larger businesses or governments entities.\nASBFEO can assist small businesses with issues pertaining to dispute resolution between two or more\nbusin\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- his service.\n- March 2019 – the Act was amended to give the Ombudsman the power to give direct\nassistance to small business in obtaining a ‘no adverse costs’ order in proceedings to\nrecover the amount of any loss or damage as a result of contraventions of the Competition\nand Consumer Act 2010. This power came into effect on 1 July 2019.\n- November 2019 – commenced providing assistance to small business engaging with the\nATO’s Compensation for Detriment and Defective Administration Scheme.\nFurther into the assistance function, ASBFEO also offers on\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n\n### Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Act 2015\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: high\n**Mentions**: 3\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Australian+Small+Business+and+Family+Enterprise+Act+2015\n\n**Sources**:\n- `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- ysis in the conduct of this Review and production of the final report.\n- Carmel McGregor PSM, Lead Reviewer\n6\n\n[page 7]\nii. Foreword\nThe Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) commenced operations in\nMarch 2016, operating under the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Act 2015 (Cth) (the\nAct).\nSince its inception, ASBFEO has been positioned within several Federal portfolios and has reported to\nvarious small business ministers within government. Recent machinery of government changes has\nseen it return to The Department of the Treas\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- methodology used to address the review objectives and questions.\nASBFEO was established in 2016 to serve as a bridge between government and small businesses and\nfamily enterprises, making it easier for them to acquire help and support. Under Section 13 of\nthe Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Act 2015 (Cth) (‘ASBFEO Act’), ASBFEO must:\n- Advocate for small business and family enterprises in relation to relevant legislation, policies,\nand practices (the advocacy function);\n- Give assistance in relation to relevant actions if requested to do so (the assistan\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n- scussion Paper\nReview of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman:\ndiscussion paper\nMarch 2021\nThis discussion paper provides information about the review of the Australian Small Business and\nFamily Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO).\nThe law [Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Act 2015 (Cth)] requires that the operation\nof the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s (ASBFEO) office is reviewed\nevery four years. The next review is due for completion by June 2021 and will take place between\nMarch 2021 and June 2021. Once c\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n\n### Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: medium\n**Mentions**: 1\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Australian+Small+Business+and+Family+Enterprise+Ombudsman+The+Australian+Small+Business+and+Family+Enterprise+Ombudsman+Act+2015\n\n**Sources**:\n- `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- ure is to build on this success, consolidate and strengthen their place\nin the ecosystem and leverage the invaluable data and expertise of others in the system.\n64\n\n[page 65]\nAppendices\nAppendix “A”- Terms of Reference\nTerms of Reference for the Review of the Australian Small Business and\nFamily Enterprise Ombudsman\nThe Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015 (the Act) requires a review\nof the operation of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) every\nfour years.\nSince its establishment in 2016, ASBFEO has developed and enhanced its assistance and advocacy\nfunctions and acquired seve\n Source: `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl`\n\n### Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: medium\n**Mentions**: 1\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Family+Enterprise+Ombudsman+%28Consequential+and+Transitional+Provisions%29+Act+2015\n\n**Sources**:\n- `pages/about.html`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- review\nof the ASBFEO’s functions was required to be completed one year after its establishment, by 30 June 2017. This review was led by Ms Su McCluskey with the final report provided to the Minister.\nAustralian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015\nUnder the Act, the Minister for Small business is required to appoint an independent review no later than every four years afterwards. This\nsecond review\nwas led by Ms Carmel McGregor PSM and the final report was provided to the Minister in June 2021.\nFreedom\n Source: `pages/about.html`\n\n### Under the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: medium\n**Mentions**: 1\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Under+the+Australian+Small+Business+and+Family+Enterprise+Ombudsman+Act+2015\n\n**Sources**:\n- `other-pdfs/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pages.jsonl`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- islation, policies and practices; and\n• assist small businesses and family enterprises in relation to disputes and other\nrelevant actions if requested to do so.\nThese are in addition to any other functions conferred on it by any Act or legislative\ninstrument.\nUnder the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015\n(the Act), the Minister for Small Business is required to initiate independent reviews\nof the ASBFEO’s assistance function. This is the first independent review of the\nASBFEO’s functions under the Act and was required to be completed by 30 June 2017.\nThe ASBF\n Source: `other-pdfs/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pages.jsonl`\n\n### Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: low\n**Mentions**: 2\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Public+Governance%2C+Performance+and+Accountability+Act+2013\n\n**Sources**:\n- `pages/about.html`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- staff co-located with Treasury at its Sydney office.\nThe approved operational budget and staffing levels are assigned by Treasury to ASBFEO and not separately publicly reported.\nAccountabilities\nASBFEO does not have specific agency responsibilities under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 to produce a strategic plan consistent with the PGPA Act and notionally has its strategic intent reflected in the Treasury department plans and reporting.\nHowever, to the extent possible and practical, ASBFEO is responsive to the PGPA Act framework for govern\n Source: `pages/about.html`\n- ia Release/op-eds/ASBFEO mentions\nEnablement and Operations\nResource management commensurate with allocated budget and staffing\nPGPA compliance\nAPS Census and WHS reporting\nAnnual plan priorities\nASBFEO does not have specific agency responsibilities under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 to produce a strategic plan consistent with the PGPA Act and has only its broad strategic intent reflected in Department of the Treasury plans and reporting.\nHowever, to the extent possible and practical, ASBFEO is responsive to the PGPA Act framework for gov\n Source: `pages/about.html`\n\n### Fair Work Act 2009\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: low\n**Mentions**: 1\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Fair+Work+Act+2009\n\n**Sources**:\n- `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pages.jsonl`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- tegrated climate and\nServices Capability disaster risk scenarios tailored to various needs of relevant\nindustry sectors and end users.\nRecommendation 6.6 The Australian Government should consider whether\nEmployment protections employment protections under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) are\nfor fire and emergency sufficient to ensure that fire and emergency services volunteers\nservices volunteers will not be discriminated against, disadvantaged or dismissed for\nreasons associated with their volunteer service during natural\ndisasters.\nR\n Source: `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pages.jsonl`\n\n### Freedom of Information Act 1982\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: low\n**Mentions**: 1\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Freedom+of+Information+Act+1982\n\n**Sources**:\n- `pages/about.html`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- cribe as clearly as possible the information being sought. Include any reference numbers or articles that may assist in identifying specific material and where possible include a date range.\nRequest process\nASBFEO processed FOI requests in accordance with the\nFreedom of Information Act 1982\nand guidelines from the\nOffice of the Australian Information Commissioner.\nCharges\nThere is no application fee for an FOI request.\nProcessing charges\nmay apply to requests other than for documents containing only personal information. If there is a charge, th\n Source: `pages/about.html`\n\n### Freedom of Information The Freedom of Information Act 1982\n\n**Type**: Act\n**Confidence**: low\n**Mentions**: 1\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Freedom+of+Information+The+Freedom+of+Information+Act+1982\n\n**Sources**:\n- `pages/about.html`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- ct 2015\nUnder the Act, the Minister for Small business is required to appoint an independent review no later than every four years afterwards. This\nsecond review\nwas led by Ms Carmel McGregor PSM and the final report was provided to the Minister in June 2021.\nFreedom of Information\nThe\nFreedom of Information Act 1982\n(the Act) gives members of the public a general right of access to documents of an agency and official documents of a Minister, other than exempt documents or parts of documents. Exemptions may relate to national security, material obtained in confidence, Cab\n Source: `pages/about.html`\n\n### Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal’s Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order 2016\n\n**Type**: Order\n**Confidence**: low\n**Mentions**: 1\n**Register search**: https://www.legislation.gov.au/search?query=Road+Safety+Remuneration+Tribunal%E2%80%99s+Contractor+Driver+Minimum+Payments+Road+Safety+Remuneration+Order+2016\n\n**Sources**:\n- `other-pdfs/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pages.jsonl`\n\n**Evidence contexts**:\n- included inquiries, research, submissions\nand a range of other activities\nOver the past year the ASBFEO has conducted three inquiries into issues affecting\nsmall businesses and family enterprises, including:\n• the effect on Australian small businesses of the Road Safety Remuneration\nTribunal’s Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration\nOrder 2016;\n• small business lending practices; and\n• payment times and practices.\nThe Minister for Small Business initiated the former two of these inquiries. The\nASBFEO initiated the third in response to concerns its stakeholders had raised. It was\nconducted in collab\n Source: `other-pdfs/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pages.jsonl`\n\n## Files Scanned\n\n- `pages/about.html` (page)\n- `pages/annual-reports-index.html` (page)\n- `pages/homepage.html` (page)\n- `pages/inquiries-index.html` (page)\n- `pages/inquiries-index__00.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__01.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__02.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__03.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__04.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__05.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__06.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__07.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__08.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__09.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__10.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__11.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__12.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__13.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__14.html` (page)\n- `pages/media-releases-index__15.html` (page)\n- `pages/news-latest.html` (page)\n- `pages/structure.html` (page)\n- `other-pdfs/ASBFEO-20Annual-20Plan-20Priorities.pages.jsonl` (pdf_pages)\n- `other-pdfs/ASBFEO-20Guiding-20Principles_0.pages.jsonl` (pdf_pages)\n- `other-pdfs/Energising-20Enterprise-20--2014-20Steps-20to-20boost-20Australia-27s-20small-20.pages.jsonl` (pdf_pages)\n- `other-pdfs/p2021-203908.pages.jsonl` (pdf_pages)\n- `other-pdfs/r2017-186923-Final-ASBFEO-Report.pages.jsonl` (pdf_pages)\n- `reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pages.jsonl` (pdf_pages)\n- `strategies/ASBFEO-20Strategic-20Framework.pages.jsonl` (pdf_pages)", "global_initiatives_md": null, "strategy": { "reporting_period": "2024-25", "corporate_plan_period": "2025-26", "vision": null, "vision_source_page": null, "purposes": null, "purposes_source_page": null, "how_we_deliver": null, "how_we_deliver_source_page": null, "government_priorities": [], "outcomes": [ { "name": "Outcome 1: Assisting small businesses and family enterprises", "description": "Providing support and advocacy to small businesses and family enterprises to help them thrive.", "key_activities": [ "Assistance & Data Analysis Enablement & Advocacy", "Communications & Information & Reporting" ], "source_page": 1 } ], "values": [ "Assistance", "Data Analysis", "Enablement", "Advocacy", "Communications", "Information", "Reporting", "Operations", "Dispute Resolution", "Addressing Sector Economic Impact", "Strategic Agency Capability" ], "values_framework_name": "ASBFEO Strategic Framework", "kpi_targets_2025_26": [ { "code": "ADRE01", "measure": "Number of disputes resolved", "target": "Increase by 15%", "source_page": 1 }, { "code": "ADRE02", "measure": "Client satisfaction rate", "target": "90%", "source_page": 1 }, { "code": "ADRE03", "measure": "Number of advocacy initiatives", "target": "20", "source_page": 1 } ], "kpi_results_2024_25": [ { "code": "ADRE01", "measure": "Number of disputes resolved", "result": "14% increase", "status": "Partially achieved", "source_page": 1 }, { "code": "ADRE02", "measure": "Client satisfaction rate", "result": "88%", "status": "Substantially achieved", "source_page": 1 }, { "code": "ADRE03", "measure": "Number of advocacy initiatives", "result": "18", "status": "Mostly achieved", "source_page": 1 } ], "_source_urls": { "annual_report_url": "", "corporate_plan_url": "" } }, "ideas": [ { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Risk & Assurance", "scale": "small", "title": "Recommendation tracker for audits, reviews, and inquiries", "idea": "Publish a single internal tracker for audit/review recommendations, owners, due dates, and implementation evidence.", "quote": "[Page 80]\nAttachment D | Recommendations | Inquiry Report\nRoyal Commission Recommendations Relevant for Small\nBusiness\nRecommendation 3.4 Australian Government agencies should work together across all\nIntegrating disaster phases of disaster management.\nmanagement of the\nAustralian Government\nRecommendation 3.5 The Australian Government should establish a standing entity\nEstablishing a standing that will enhance national natural disaster resilience and\nresilience and recovery recovery, focused on long-term disaster risk reduction.\nentity\nRecommendation 3.6 The Australian Government should enhance national\nEnhanced national preparedness for, and response to, natural disasters, building on\npreparedness and the responsibilities of Emergency Management Australia, to\nresponse entity include facilitating resource sharing decisions of governments\nand stress testing national disaster plans.", "impact": "High", "effort": "Low", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Executives / assurance teams", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Pick one high-volume process or document family.", "Name an owner and baseline current volume, time, cost, and satisfaction.", "Run a 4-8 week pilot with clear before/after metrics.", "Publish lessons and decide whether to scale." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability", "Regulatory capture", "Over-automation of judgement" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Risk & Assurance", "scale": "large", "title": "Integrated assurance and lessons-learned system", "idea": "Create an assurance system that connects audit findings, risk registers, delivery reviews, and investment decisions.", "quote": "[Page 80]\nAttachment D | Recommendations | Inquiry Report\nRoyal Commission Recommendations Relevant for Small\nBusiness\nRecommendation 3.4 Australian Government agencies should work together across all\nIntegrating disaster phases of disaster management.\nmanagement of the\nAustralian Government\nRecommendation 3.5 The Australian Government should establish a standing entity\nEstablishing a standing that will enhance national natural disaster resilience and\nresilience and recovery recovery, focused on long-term disaster risk reduction.\nentity\nRecommendation 3.6 The Australian Government should enhance national\nEnhanced national preparedness for, and response to, natural disasters, building on\npreparedness and the responsibilities of Emergency Management Australia, to\nresponse entity include facilitating resource sharing decisions of governments\nand stress testing national disaster plans.", "impact": "Very High", "effort": "High", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Executives / assurance teams", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Create a senior responsible owner and cross-functional delivery team.", "Map legislation, data, privacy, procurement, cyber, and workforce constraints.", "Co-design with users and frontline staff before technology selection.", "Stage delivery through pilots, benefits tracking, and public reporting." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability", "Regulatory capture", "Over-automation of judgement" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Regulation & Policy", "scale": "small", "title": "Regulatory burden scan for forms, guidance, and reporting", "idea": "Identify the top 10 highest-friction reporting obligations and simplify guidance, forms, or evidence requirements.", "quote": "8.2.15 The OECD suggests ‘budget tagging’ as a method of incentivising policy makers across multiple\nlevels of government to incorporate resilience considerations into their decisions, and to also\nfind ‘areas of synergies and gaps to fill’ in small business resilience spending.93\n8.2.16 The recently released UN conference on trade and development paper examining the impact of\nCOVID on micro, small, and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), highlights how disasters can\ntrigger changes in market composition and produce competition-related challenges, especially\nimpacting on smaller enterprises.94 The paper highlights how the eventual recovery of\neconomies requires the restoration of market access and competition policy influences to\nensure MSMEs can again retain or gain access to markets and consumers.", "impact": "High", "effort": "Low", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Regulated entities / policy teams", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Pick one high-volume process or document family.", "Name an owner and baseline current volume, time, cost, and satisfaction.", "Run a 4-8 week pilot with clear before/after metrics.", "Publish lessons and decide whether to scale." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability", "Regulatory capture", "Over-automation of judgement" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Regulation & Policy", "scale": "large", "title": "Adaptive regulation program with live feedback loops", "idea": "Create an adaptive regulation model using sandboxes, industry data, risk scoring, and regular rule updates.", "quote": "8.2.15 The OECD suggests ‘budget tagging’ as a method of incentivising policy makers across multiple\nlevels of government to incorporate resilience considerations into their decisions, and to also\nfind ‘areas of synergies and gaps to fill’ in small business resilience spending.93\n8.2.16 The recently released UN conference on trade and development paper examining the impact of\nCOVID on micro, small, and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), highlights how disasters can\ntrigger changes in market composition and produce competition-related challenges, especially\nimpacting on smaller enterprises.94 The paper highlights how the eventual recovery of\neconomies requires the restoration of market access and competition policy influences to\nensure MSMEs can again retain or gain access to markets and consumers.", "impact": "Very High", "effort": "High", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Regulated entities / policy teams", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Create a senior responsible owner and cross-functional delivery team.", "Map legislation, data, privacy, procurement, cyber, and workforce constraints.", "Co-design with users and frontline staff before technology selection.", "Stage delivery through pilots, benefits tracking, and public reporting." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability", "Regulatory capture", "Over-automation of judgement" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Citizen Services", "scale": "small", "title": "Plain-language service pages and proactive status updates", "idea": "Rewrite high-volume pages and letters into plain language, add status notifications, and measure contact reduction.", "quote": "Recommendation 12.1 State and territory governments, working with local\nRoadside vegetation governments and fire and emergency service agencies, should\nmanagement ensure that there are appropriate arrangements for roadside\nvegetation management that take into account, among other\nthings:\n1. priority access and egress routes\n2. road priority, utility and strategic value\n3. cost, and\n4.", "impact": "High", "effort": "Low", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Citizens / service users", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Pick one high-volume process or document family.", "Name an owner and baseline current volume, time, cost, and satisfaction.", "Run a 4-8 week pilot with clear before/after metrics.", "Publish lessons and decide whether to scale." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability", "Digital exclusion", "Low public trust if feedback is not acted on" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Citizen Services", "scale": "large", "title": "Single front door for life-event based services", "idea": "Bundle services around life events so citizens can complete related steps across agencies in one journey.", "quote": "Recommendation 12.1 State and territory governments, working with local\nRoadside vegetation governments and fire and emergency service agencies, should\nmanagement ensure that there are appropriate arrangements for roadside\nvegetation management that take into account, among other\nthings:\n1. priority access and egress routes\n2. road priority, utility and strategic value\n3. cost, and\n4.", "impact": "Very High", "effort": "High", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Citizens / service users", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Create a senior responsible owner and cross-functional delivery team.", "Map legislation, data, privacy, procurement, cyber, and workforce constraints.", "Co-design with users and frontline staff before technology selection.", "Stage delivery through pilots, benefits tracking, and public reporting." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability", "Digital exclusion", "Low public trust if feedback is not acted on" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Citizen Participation", "scale": "small", "title": "Consultation feedback summaries with response tracking", "idea": "Summarise consultation submissions by theme and publish what changed in response.", "quote": "They provide jobs and employment, improve the quality of life for residents, help\nto create a vibrant community, provide economic opportunities, attract investment to the\nregion, and in some instances help to encourage migration to the bush.52\n6.1.6 This criticality of the small and family business community is recognised in the current Disaster\nRecovery Funding Arrangement, which points to the need for support for small and family\nbusinesses where there is a risk that the community will lose essential businesses,53 although\nthere is little acknowledgement of this in other disaster prevention activities with stakeholders\npointing to the 2018 National Risk Reduction Framework as largely overlooking small\nbusinesses.54\n6.1.7 The nature of the DRFA and event classification and variations in elements of the response and", "impact": "High", "effort": "Low", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Citizens / stakeholders / policy teams", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Pick one high-volume process or document family.", "Name an owner and baseline current volume, time, cost, and satisfaction.", "Run a 4-8 week pilot with clear before/after metrics.", "Publish lessons and decide whether to scale." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability", "Digital exclusion", "Low public trust if feedback is not acted on" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Citizen Participation", "scale": "large", "title": "Always-on policy participation platform", "idea": "Create a standing participation platform where citizens and stakeholders can propose, vote, and track ideas.", "quote": "They provide jobs and employment, improve the quality of life for residents, help\nto create a vibrant community, provide economic opportunities, attract investment to the\nregion, and in some instances help to encourage migration to the bush.52\n6.1.6 This criticality of the small and family business community is recognised in the current Disaster\nRecovery Funding Arrangement, which points to the need for support for small and family\nbusinesses where there is a risk that the community will lose essential businesses,53 although\nthere is little acknowledgement of this in other disaster prevention activities with stakeholders\npointing to the 2018 National Risk Reduction Framework as largely overlooking small\nbusinesses.54\n6.1.7 The nature of the DRFA and event classification and variations in elements of the response and", "impact": "Very High", "effort": "High", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Citizens / stakeholders / policy teams", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Create a senior responsible owner and cross-functional delivery team.", "Map legislation, data, privacy, procurement, cyber, and workforce constraints.", "Co-design with users and frontline staff before technology selection.", "Stage delivery through pilots, benefits tracking, and public reporting." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability", "Digital exclusion", "Low public trust if feedback is not acted on" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Data & Performance", "scale": "small", "title": "KPI evidence register with named owners", "idea": "Create a simple register mapping each KPI to source data, owner, frequency, target, and last result.", "quote": "DRFA Category C measures are ‘…a community\nrecovery package that is intended to support a holistic approach to the recovery of regions,\ncommunities or sectors severely affected by an eligible disaster…’.59\n6.2.7 DRFA Category C measures include recovery grants for small and family businesses where the\nbusiness sector is severely affected and the community risks losing essential businesses and\nmust be approved by the Prime Minister.60 Recovery grants under DRFA Category C are required\nto not exceed $10,000 except in exceptional circumstances, in which case grants of up to\n$25,000 may be granted.61\n6.2.8 DRFA Category D measures are to be used only in extreme circumstances, such as the\nFebruary/March 2022 floods in New South Wales and southern Queensland and are ‘…an act of\nrelief or recovery carried out to alleviate distress or damage in circumstances which are, in the", "impact": "High", "effort": "Low", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Executives / Parliament / public", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Pick one high-volume process or document family.", "Name an owner and baseline current volume, time, cost, and satisfaction.", "Run a 4-8 week pilot with clear before/after metrics.", "Publish lessons and decide whether to scale." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Data & Performance", "scale": "large", "title": "Outcome dashboard linking budget, delivery, and public impact", "idea": "Build a public-facing outcome dashboard showing spend, outputs, outcomes, and delivery confidence.", "quote": "DRFA Category C measures are ‘…a community\nrecovery package that is intended to support a holistic approach to the recovery of regions,\ncommunities or sectors severely affected by an eligible disaster…’.59\n6.2.7 DRFA Category C measures include recovery grants for small and family businesses where the\nbusiness sector is severely affected and the community risks losing essential businesses and\nmust be approved by the Prime Minister.60 Recovery grants under DRFA Category C are required\nto not exceed $10,000 except in exceptional circumstances, in which case grants of up to\n$25,000 may be granted.61\n6.2.8 DRFA Category D measures are to be used only in extreme circumstances, such as the\nFebruary/March 2022 floods in New South Wales and southern Queensland and are ‘…an act of\nrelief or recovery carried out to alleviate distress or damage in circumstances which are, in the", "impact": "Very High", "effort": "High", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Executives / Parliament / public", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Create a senior responsible owner and cross-functional delivery team.", "Map legislation, data, privacy, procurement, cyber, and workforce constraints.", "Co-design with users and frontline staff before technology selection.", "Stage delivery through pilots, benefits tracking, and public reporting." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Procurement & Delivery", "scale": "small", "title": "Procurement lessons library for repeat purchases", "idea": "Capture reusable procurement clauses, market lessons, supplier performance notes, and common evaluation criteria.", "quote": "Unlike the DFAA and NDMP, for-profit organisations can be eligible recipients\nof DMAF (working in partnership with a province or territory, or public sector body with a\nstream that is allocatable to projects with eligible costs between CAD$1 million and CAD$20\nmillion.129\n8.5.13 Despite this stream allowing for projects that could within the reach of small and family\nbusiness working with government, small and family businesses are not singled out for\nencouragement to apply, and it does not appear that any approved projects have small and\nfamily business applicants.", "impact": "High", "effort": "Low", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Delivery teams / suppliers", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ "Pick one high-volume process or document family.", "Name an owner and baseline current volume, time, cost, and satisfaction.", "Run a 4-8 week pilot with clear before/after metrics.", "Publish lessons and decide whether to scale." ], "risks": [ "Privacy and data quality", "Change fatigue", "Unclear accountability" ] }, { "entity_id": "B-003996", "entity_name": "Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman", "folder_name": "Australian-Small-Business-and-Family-Enterprise-Ombudsman", "category": "Procurement & Delivery", "scale": "large", "title": "Portfolio delivery office for major investments", "idea": "Stand up a portfolio delivery office that tracks benefits, risks, dependencies, procurement, and delivery confidence.", "quote": "Unlike the DFAA and NDMP, for-profit organisations can be eligible recipients\nof DMAF (working in partnership with a province or territory, or public sector body with a\nstream that is allocatable to projects with eligible costs between CAD$1 million and CAD$20\nmillion.129\n8.5.13 Despite this stream allowing for projects that could within the reach of small and family\nbusiness working with government, small and family businesses are not singled out for\nencouragement to apply, and it does not appear that any approved projects have small and\nfamily business applicants.", "impact": "Very High", "effort": "High", "proof": "Evidence-backed", "beneficiaries": "Delivery teams / suppliers", "source": "reviews/Small-20Business-20Natural-20Disaster-20Preparedness-20and-20Resilience-20Inquir.pdf (https://asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/Small%20Business%20Natural%20Disaster%20Preparedness%20and%20Resilience%20Inquiry%20Report_FINAL.pdf)", "implementation": [ 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