Labor, Coalition to compete for small business hearts and minds at COSBOA summit

The federal government and the Opposition will show off their duelling visions for the small business sector at this week’s COSBOA National Small Business Summit, one of the last big-name business events before the May budget outlines taxpayer support for SMEs.

Minister for Small Business Julie Collins and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will both speak at the National Small Business Summit, which launches in Sydney on Wednesday.

Their competing statements will arrive after a hard-fought week in Canberra, which saw the Senate adopt a Coalition-led proposal to significantly expand Labor’s $20,000 instant asset write-off plan.

Last year’s summit saw Collins claim the Coalition was opposed to practical measures that would help small businesses, with Dutton himself accusing the Labor government of viewing small business owners with “suspicions”.

Prominent independent MPs Dai Le, Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender, and Kylea Tink will participate in the summit, showcasing the significant influence of crossbenchers in the current Parliament and their role in shaping legislation relevant to small businesses.

New Commissioner of Taxation Robert Heferen will address the event in one of his first major public engagements.

He is slated to speak alongside Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Australian Securities and Investments Commissioner Kate O’Rourke, and Australian Financial Security Authority chief executive Tim Beresford.

Small business founders, association chiefs, and representatives from big business will also speak at the event.

SmartCompany will report from the COSBOA summit on Wednesday and Thursday.