The Australian Greens have challenged Liberal Party small business spokesperson Bruce Billson MP to commit to real action on addressing concerns around competition policy instead of instigating yet another review.

The Australian Greens along with Senator Xenophon have issued a dissenting report into whether to legislate the role of the new Commonwealth Small Business Commissioner following a Senate inquiry into the Greens Small Business Commissioner Bill 2013.

The Australian Greens have raised concerns Labor’s ad hoc approach to the small business ministry is undermining effective representation of this most important sector in the Australian economy.

Small business spokesperson Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated it was a significant concern that the new minister, Gary Gray AO, MP has little time to become familiar with the issues facing the sector before the election.

The ongoing dispute between ASIO and a number of small building firms to the tune of $6m is further evidence of the need for a Federal Small Business Commissioner with real authority.

Australian Greens Small Business spokesperson Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the dispute focussing on ASIO’s new Canberra offices was a prime example of the institutional imbalance many small businesses faced when dealing with government departments.

Australian Greens Introduce Bill to Give Federal Small Business Commissioner Some Teeth

The Australian Greens today announced their intention to formalise the role of the Federal Small Business Commissioner in legislation with a private member’s bill to be introduced into the Senate in late February.

Greens small business spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated the Party was committed to seeing the role given some ‘real teeth’ in order for it to operate effectively.

Claims that beverage companies are profiteering from container deposit schemes in South Australia and the Northern Territory will be the subject of a Senate inquiry.

Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Independent senator Nick Xenophon combined in the Senate on Thursday to push for an inquiry into the pricing and revenue allocation practices of the beverage industry.