Posts tagged "bill"

Small businesses would be granted a dedicated complaints process within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, fast-tracking their concerns about breaches of competition law or franchising regulations, under a new bill before the House of Representatives.

Independent Senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock have successfully pushed four industrial relations reforms through the Senate, setting up a Lower House battle against a federal government still hoping to contain its contentious IR reforms in one giant bill. 

The federal government has ceded ground to employer groups on contentious IR reform package, agreeing to change key proposals related to casual work.

COSBOA is locked in a staredown with Employment Minister Tony Burke, as the federal government refuses to split off elements of its highly contentious Closing the Loopholes industrial relations reform package.

Cheaper energy prices for small business could be just a phone call away, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says, as the cost of some electricity deals soars above the 'safety net' offered to energy consumers.

A tax break providing video game studios a 30% refund on development costs has passed in the Senate, marking what Australian industry leaders have described as a major win for local talent.

Electricity prices will rise as much as 29% for tens of thousands of small businesses across Australia from July 1, as market regulators confirm major hikes to the base rates offered to energy consumers.

As business groups bemoan the contentious Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill, independent Senator David Pocock says the amendments he secured will shield small businesses from the most significant industrial relations reforms contained in the legislation.

The federal government's industrial relations reform bill is set to pass into law after the Senate crossbench secured a raft of amendments.

The federal government will next week introduce an industrial relations reform bill it hopes will drive wage growth and secure fairer working conditions.

Penalties of $50 million for companies found to have engaged in anti-competitive behaviour could soon be a reality, as the federal government tables legislation that could drastically increase the risks of breaching competition and consumer law.

The stigma associated with reaching out for help is harming SMEs struggling to keep up with their power bills, a new report says.