The establishment of the Small Business Commissioner office by the federal government provides newsagents with another place where we could seek to have disputes, such as magazine distribution disputes, resolved. The website is clear on the role:
The role of the Australian Small Business Commissioner is to provide advocacy and representation of small business interests and concerns to the Australian Government, including referral to business-to-business dispute resolution services.
I think this provides us with an opportunity for advocacy around issues affecting newsagents as small business owners, particularly in areas where we are treated differently to competitors as is the case in magazine distribution.
As a channel we have failed to adequately explain to successive governments, state and federal, the disadvantage to us, and to our customers, of the current magazine distribution arrangements.
I urge newsagents to remember this new small business commissioner office when next contemplating a course of action on a business challenge. If they can;t directly help – because of state versus federal jurisdiction – they should be able to point you in the right direction.
To those who may say this new office is not what small business needs, it is better than not having such an office at all. It’s a promise kept.