Small business owners and individuals are encouraged to have a say in an online survey aimed at gaining a better understanding of business-related disputes.
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, said they were interested in the steps small businesses took to resolve issues, such as late invoice payments and unfair contract terms.
“We are keen to hear from business owners who might have been involved in these types of disputes, but didn’t pursue any avenues to try to resolve them,” she said.
“Chasing disputes is expensive and time consuming, so anything we can do to improve access to justice for small businesses is extremely important.
“Even if your dispute occurred as long ago as five years, we still want to hear from you and learn from your experience.”
The online survey is open until June 30 and once complete, a discussion paper will be released to propose policy options.
The survey can be accessed at https://www.orima.com.au/smallbusiness/disputes
