Why the Do Not Call Register Could Strangle Small Business
February 22, 2010
By Susan McGrath.
The Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA) has advised the Australian Businesswomen’s Network that the Australian Communications and Media Authority is considering extending the Do Not Call register to include businesses - and has forecast a 50% take up rate of business numbers.
The ADMA is concerned about the potential this has to significantly increase the competitive marketing edge larger businesses have over SMEs – while SMEs will effectively be blocked from making contact with prospective customers and clients, larger businesses will continue to be able to make telemarketing calls, under the “existing business relationships” provision.
The ADMA is currently conducting a survey with respect to small businesses, which can be accessed from this link; and has also provided the following list of actions that members can take in addition to undertaking the survey:
- Write to the senate committee voicing your concerns.
- Write to Members of Parliament voicing your concerns.
- Ministers in favour of extension to business and government numbers
- Ministers against extension to business and government numbers
- Help ADMA fund the Access Economics survey.
- The funding of the Access Economics survey was an expensive exercise. If you want to support ADMA send a donation to ADMA, GPO Box 3895, Sydney NSW 2001; and indicate the money is for the Access Economics Study.
- Join ADMA.
Further information can be obtained here.
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Susan Wareham McGrath - National Special Projects Manager - Australian Businesswomen’s NetworkSusan joined the ABN Board as National Special Projects Manager - Public Policy and Advocacy in February 2007. Tertiary qualified in psychology, business and public policy development, Susan holds Accredited Professional status with the Recruitment Services Association Ltd and is a nationally accredited trainer. She is a mentor in the ABN’s MentorNet program and a regular panelist in the Queensland Government’s Mentoring for Growth program.
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Quotas for Women on Boards
February 7, 2010
I’m writing an article about Women on Boards and would love to know what ABN members think about the idea of introducing quotas for female representation on corporate boards.
Would the introduction of quotas be:
A positive move?
Tokenism?
Unnecessary?
Essential?
Is there any other way we can redress the imbalance between male and female representation at the corporate Board level?
SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW
Any input would be greatly appreciated - lateral thinking welcomed!
OR
Best regards
Susan
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Susan Wareham McGrath - National Special Projects Manager - Australian Businesswomen’s NetworkSusan joined the ABN Board as National Special Projects Manager - Public Policy and Advocacy in February 2007. Tertiary qualified in psychology, business and public policy development, Susan holds Accredited Professional status with the Recruitment Services Association Ltd and is a nationally accredited trainer. She is a mentor in the ABN’s MentorNet program and a regular panelist in the Queensland Government’s Mentoring for Growth program.
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ABN meets Minister for Small Business - A review of top issues
February 2, 2010
As the peak representative organisation for female entrepreneurs and businesswomen in Australia, the ABN is in regular contact with politicians whose portfolios include areas of relevance to its members.
Last week, ABN Advisory Board member Susan Wareham McGrath met with the Honourable Dr Craig Emerson MP, Federal Minister for Small Business, to discuss issues raised by members in response to the ABN’s recent invitation to submit input to the agenda.
Dr Emerson and Susan discussed a range of topics including:
- Dr Emerson’s thoughts about the future of small business in Australia
- What the Rudd government is doing for small business
- Industries poised to grow in the short to medium term
- Programs and initiatives to support women in business and
- Trends Dr Emerson sees for small business during 2010
Overall, the message was a positive one.
Dr Emerson believes small business has a strong future in this country; and made a point of acknowledging the contributions made by SMEs to help the Australian economy through the downturn. He mentioned in particular their retention of staff, which put a floor under unemployment in Australia, thereby contributing socially as well as economically, as the scourge of unemployment can last for a long time.
In terms of the contribution of the Rudd Government to small business in Australia, Dr Emerson discussed the impact the Government’s stimulus package has had on small business. In this context, he highlighted the original cash payments, which helped stimulate the economy at a critical time by helping to avoid negative growth for two quarters in a row. If not for the stimulus he said, economic analysis indicates that the difference would have been a recession
Dr Emerson sees retailing and tourism as growth industries. They will be driven by our strong population growth, which is higher than expected, due to natural increase and our strong immigration program. To remain competitive, Dr Emerson believes that retailers will need to develop innovative ways of reaching customers, particularly the youth market; and that business in general should not underestimate the digital revolution.
He predicted that tourism and associated industries will also grow over the next few years, with online tourism, to an extent, being one area in which we could do better, as our strong reliance on Australia’s natural assets has made us not as sharp as we could be in this area. The tourist industry should take advantage of the digital revolution, to promote Australia strongly as a tourist destination - particularly to China and India, where economic growth is leading to the development of a large middle class, keen to holiday overseas.
While the Government does not plan to provide specific funding or programs to assist women in business, its new broadband network will enable home-based businesses, of which women run the majority, to reach far more customers, and consequently achieve greater growth. In addition, the Government will continue to work to increase the economic context for small business to develop and focus on growth.
The main trend Dr Emerson sees for small business during 2010 relates to workforce issues. Shortages of skilled staff will re-emerge in some states, particularly in Western Australia, where business organisations are already discussing staff shortages. Consequently, the attraction of working in Western Australia will result in a shifting workforce from other states, with a flow-on effect of creating some shortages in those areas
The full transcript of Susan’s interview with Dr Emerson will be published in the Summer 2010 edition of our herVoice Business Briefing.
Suzi Dafnis
Community Director
Australian Businesswomen’s Network
Help us name a new author series…
January 21, 2010
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network and Citrix GoTo Webinar will soon launch a new lunchtime series with prominent business authors from around the world. Designed to provide lunchtime education (the series is part of Citrix’s Lunch + Learn initiative) each webinar will feature a business thinker whose work and message is compelling and thought-provoking.
We are looking for a good name for the series, and we’d love your input.
A couple of points:
- The speakers will (in most cases) be authors. Occassionally a prominent business person may be asked to address the audience.
- The sessions will be educational more than ‘motivational’.
- The webinars will often coincide with the release of new business book titles.
- The webinars are for a business audience.
- The name of the series should be short (no more than 4 words, ideally).
Any ideas? We’d love your thoughts.
You can either add a comment below or email me direct.
My appreciation,
Suzi
P.S. I’m very excited about this series - and especially our first guest (who I’ll announce next week).
ABN Meeting with Federal Parliamentarians - Community Input Sought
January 16, 2010
As the peak representative organsation for Australian businesswomen and female entrepreneurs, the Australian Businesswomen’s Network is meeting individually with the Federal Minister for Small Business, Dr Craig Emerson and the Federal Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry next week.
Community Director Suzi Dafnis will be meeting with Senator Sherry and Advisory Board member Susan McGrath is meeting with Dr Emerson.
We’re seeking input for both meetings so we can make the most of this opportunity to represent the concerns of the Australian SME community to both parliamentarians.
If you have a public policy issue you would like us to raise with either Dr Emerson or Senator Sherry, please contact us on policy@abn.org.au, or call the ABN on 1300 720 120.
The more input we receive, the stronger the messages we can take to the Minister and the Assistant Treasurer - this is one of the few opportunities Australian businesswomen and female entrepreneurs will have this year to have their voice heard at the highest level of Australian government, so we would love to hear from as many community members as possible.
Sincerely
Suzi and Susan
South Australian Taxes Highest for Business
December 29, 2009
Today’s Australian newspaper reports that research by the Institute of Public Affairs has found South Australia is the highest taxing Australian jurisdication for business.
Queensland continues to slide in its competitiveness, while WA has the most favourable taxation regime for business.
The report’s author, IPA research fellow Julie Novak, says that tax reform should be a priority for all governments in the current low-growth economic environment.
The ABN has long been advocating for fiscal and economic public policy reform to assist small business; particularly those owned by women.
We would welcome your input and ideas about public policy reform, or any other issues relating to the small business environment, so that we can raise them at our next meeting with Senator Craig Emerson, the Minister for Small Business.
Please post your input below, or email to policy@abn.org.au.
50% business tax break purchase deadline 31 December 2009
December 2, 2009
The Small Business and General Business Tax Break was introduced as an investment allowance a year ago, to boost business investment during the global financial crisis.
It was extended in this year’s Budget to allow small businesses to claim an extra 50% tax deduction on eligible assets bought by 31 December 2009.
As the deadline for eligible purchases draws closer, the ATO has developed some online information materials to help explain the business tax break to businesses:
· A Tips for Business fact sheet
· A Myth Busters fact sheet
· A short article for use in newsletters or websites
· A business tax break overview ‘hand out’
· Information in languages other than English
The kit is available on www.ato.gov.au and the business tax break communications team can provide further information via businesstaxbreakcommunications@ato.gov.au or 1300 337 921 (8.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday).
Pay gap between women and men comes under scrutiny
November 30, 2009
ANY employer, including small businesses, would need to disclose what female staff earn relative to men to a Pay Equity Unit with a ‘’sticks and carrots” approach to solving the gender pay gap, a Federal Government report recommends.
Describing the main industrial relations system as ‘’steeped in gender assumptions”, the committee chaired by the Labor MP Sharryn Jackson found most women worked in low-paid and casual work that was reliant on the minimum wage and award safety nets, and wants the ”modern” awards also re-examined on gender grounds.
The Committee found that Australian women are paid on average 17 per cent less than men because of social assumptions about the role of women as parents, because women disproportionately work in part-time and casual work and because typically female ”caring” work is undervalued.
Plain sex discrimination was also to blame.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au
Comment:
Ms Jackson and her committee seem to me to have based their argument on a somewhat shaky foundation. If one works in a low paid or casual job, one will obviously earn less than someone who works full-time in a highly paid job. I don’t see that as discrimination, or a gender assumption, just a pragmatic example of cause and effect.
And although I agree that caring work is undervalued, I would argue that is the result of market forces of supply and demand, rather than discrimination.
The answer? To educate ALL children about the commercial realities and long term implications of their work and life choices at an early age, so they are able to make informed decisions at each of their life transition points.
Susan Wareham McGrath
Important Announcement for Small Businesses
November 26, 2009
Business and individual taxpayers may be affected by the ATO’s plans to implement its new income tax system in late January 2010.
The Tax Office’s computer systems will be unavailable from Friday, 22 January until Wednesday, 27 January 2010 while it implements the new system. In addition, it will suspend some processing in the weeks leading up to the implementation.
There will also be some processing delays in the weeks following the implementation as the new system gradually returns to full processing levels. The ATO advises that these delays may continue during February 2010.
The ATO recommends that business and individual taxpayers expecting a tax refund have their income tax returns lodged as early as possible (before Christmas 2009) to reduce the likelihood of any delays.
Details about processing suspensions and other implications for tax agents and taxpayers will be provided as soon as they are available.
Green Funding Grants Now Open For Applications
November 12, 2009
As part of its International Climate Champions programme, the British Council in Australia is offering five (5) project grants of AU$10,000 each for visionary Australians who will make a real difference in the area of climate change.
Green Funding Grants Now Open For Applications
Each grant will be for AU $10,000 towards implementing the proposed project.
The projects are expected to be delivered in partnership with the British Council and will involve regular meetings and consultation, and the involvement of British Council staff in the project throughout its various stages of development and implementation.
Awardees are expected to participate in the British Council’s online climate forums and be prepared to undertake other professionaldevelopment, advocacy and networking activities up to 31 March 2011. Applications close on 4 December, interviews will be held on 11 December and successful applicants announced by 18 December.
For further information visit The British Council in Australia’s Big Green Idea website.
Susan Wareham McGrath
Susan Wareham McGrath, National Special Projects Manager — Australian Businesswomen’s Network
Susan joined the ABN Board as National Special Projects Manager - Public Policy and Advocacy in February 2007. Tertiary qualified in psychology, business and public policy development, Susan holds Accredited Professional status with the Recruitment Services Association Ltd and is a nationally accredited trainer. She is a mentor in the ABN’s MentorNet program and a regular panelist in the Queensland Government’s Mentoring for Growth program.
