The South Australian Government has appointed Mike Sinkunas as the state’s first Small Business Commisioner.

 

Mr Sinkunas will be tasked with championing the cause of the state’s 136,000 small businesses and assisting in the establishment of industry codes required to create a regulatory framework that can resolve disputes without court action.

 

“This Government wants the Commissioner to stamp out things such as predatory behaviour; unconscionable conduct and franchise churning that often target small business operators,” Minister for Small Business Tom Koutsantonis said.

 

The Commissioner also has the power to enforce mandatory codes of conduct that carry monetary penalties for breaches, he says.

 

Other key functions of the Small Business Commissioner are:

 

  • Provide educative and guidance to help inform decision making to minimise disputes;
  • Monitor and investigate unfair market practices and non-compliance with prescribed industry codes under the Fair Trading Act 1987;
  • Offer other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms where appropriate;
  • Work proactively with key stakeholders to encourage better business conduct and the principles of fair dealing and good faith and;
  • Advise the Minister for Small Business on a range of matters affecting small business.

 

Mr Koutsantonis says the appointment of the Commissioner is to make the small business sector stronger by developing a set of standards – a set of codes - that will be the benchmark for equality in business-to-business relationships and transactions.