The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, urges all Australians to recognise the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of the people driving our 2.5 million small businesses on .
鈥淲orld Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day is the perfect chance to celebrate, acknowledge and support the small businesses that are the heartbeat of our communities and engine room of the economy,鈥 said Mr Billson.
鈥淪mall businesses contribute 1 in every 3 dollars generated in our economy and employ over 5.3 million people, which is 2 in every 5 private sector jobs. This is a vital contribution to Australia鈥檚 prosperity and livelihoods, made possible by incredible resilience and relentless personal commitment to succeed at a time when many are doing it tough right now.
鈥淥ur economic wellbeing, livelihood opportunities and community wellbeing would be so much less without the extraordinary contribution and drive of small and family business people.
鈥淏eyond the economic and employment contribution, small business leaders are generous community-minded people, more likely to volunteer, provide training opportunities, support local clubs and causes, and provide the gathering places and the 鈥榮ocial fabric鈥 people rely on.
鈥淭he best way to support small business is to be a kindly customer 鈥 patient and understanding, with good and generous intent.鈥
Mr Billson called for a greater appreciation and consideration of the contribution and interests of small businesses who don鈥檛 look for hand-outs but value a supportive business environment, responsiveness to their challenges and recognition of their contribution.
鈥淏y creating the Prime Minister鈥檚 Small Business Awards and for state, territory and federal governments to require every Cabinet submission to include a small business impact statement, the acknowledgement and 鈥榝ront of mind鈥 consideration of small business sends a very strong and supportive message backed by practical action.
鈥淩educing unnecessary headwinds and celebrating small business excellence can encourage the next generation, as well as current small and family business owners and leaders, to continue to innovate, invest and be inspired by small business entrepreneurship and success.
鈥淲e all benefit from thriving small businesses. We can all contribute to boosting small businesses and practical policy action can improve prospects for success and resilience.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we need to put wind in the sails of small business and remove unnecessary barriers and burdens that needlessly impede prospects for success. Greater attention is needed in creating an ecosystem that supports small business to thrive and putting small and family businesses front of mind for our policy makers and regulators, as we鈥檝e outlined in our 14 steps to energise enterprise.
鈥淥n world MSME Day, I encourage you to join us in any way you can, to celebrate and thank our small and family businesses. Help us spread the word about how important small business is to Australia, and help small business thrive.鈥 Mr Billson said.
See also
is an initiative of the United Nations General Assembly.鈥
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