COSBOA welcomes Victorian Government decision to retain the Victorian Small Business Commission

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s decision to reject a recommendation from the Independent Review of the Victorian Public Service (“the Silver Review”) that proposed abolishing the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) and transferring its functions to VCAT.

COSBOA Chair, Matthew Addison, said the decision ensures Victorian small businesses continue to have access to a dedicated, specialised body designed to provide practical support when disputes arise.

“The Victorian Small Business Commission provides fast, accessible and affordable dispute resolution tailored to the needs of small businesses,” Mr Addison said.

“Keeping the Commission in place preserves a support system that helps prevent issues from escalating and allows businesses to stay focused on their operations.”

Mr Addison said COSBOA has long supported the role of specialist small business commissioners across Australia, and reiterated the importance of maintaining independent, small-business-specific expertise.

“Small businesses often require early, practical assistance when disputes arise. A general tribunal cannot always provide the same level of sector-specific guidance or responsiveness to resolve issues quickly and fairly,” he said.

“This decision provides Victorian small businesses certainty and maintains an important mechanism designed to keep commercial relationships on track.”

COSBOA thanked the Victorian Government for considering the concerns of the small business community raised during the review process and reaffirmed its commitment to working with governments nationally to strengthen support structures for small businesses.

For more about COSBOA, visit: cosboa.org.au.

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For media enquiries or interviews, please contact Matthew Addison, Chair, COSBOA on chair@cosboa.org.au or call +61 (0) 421 553 613.

About COSBOA

Established in 1979, The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) is a member based not-for-profit organisation exclusively representing the interests of small businesses. The capability, representation, and reach of COSBOA are defined by a mix of over 50 national and state-based members. COSBOA's strength is its capacity to harness its members' views and advance consensus across policy areas common to many.

Our member organisations work with the COSBOA team to assist us with policy development and guide our advocacy - not just for small businesses but also for the benefit of the Australians they employ. In this capacity, COSBOA makes submissions and representations to the government, including its agencies, on issues affecting small businesses and to pursue good policy.