http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/small-business/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/cost-of-australian-justice-spirals-out-of-control/ Have you ever been to a lawyer? Have you ever been a party to a Court case? If you have or know someone who has, then you will know how expensive lawyers and going to court can be. Yes, lawyers have an important role to play in providing legal advice when needed, but the cost of that legal advice keeps going up. It’s a bit like the big banks constantly bothering us with their pleas of how their cost of funding is going up and how they need to keep inflating their interest rates on loans and credit cards. And, of course, the lawyers will also tell us how tough things are for them and, surprise, surprise, how they need to raise their legal fees to cope with their increasing costs. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/cost-of-australian-justice-spirals-out-of-control/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/cost-of-australian-justice-spirals-out-of-control/#item8323 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Precise-directions-to-the-shop-that-google-killed/ A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Precise-directions-to-the-shop-that-google-killed/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Precise-directions-to-the-shop-that-google-killed/#item8059 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/australian-industry-need-women-leaders/ Today is a day to reflect on the progress made towards equality for women, but it is also a day to consider the road ahead. We know that women are innovators who are increasingly making a serious impact in industry and in business.  This is backed up by findings of the first national survey of women business owners and female entrepreneurs released this week. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/australian-industry-need-women-leaders/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/australian-industry-need-women-leaders/#item7955 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/at-last-government-goes-into-bat-for-small-business/ Late last year Canberra bookseller Peter Strong received a surprise telephone call from Treasurer Wayne Swan. Soon after he heard from then-Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten. Neither was as big a shock as what Penny Wong did. The Finance Minister walked past Mr Strong one day, stopped, and walked back to introduce herself. Peter Strong, proprietor of the splendid Smiths Alternative Bookshop, was being feted by the nation’s top three elected economic managers. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/at-last-government-goes-into-bat-for-small-business/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/at-last-government-goes-into-bat-for-small-business/#item7920 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/small-business-needs-a-heavyweight-in-cabinet-julia/ With the ALP’s leadership tussle over for now, it’s time for the Federal Government to get back to the much needed policy work on competition, small business and consumer law issues. These issues are fundamental to the ALP’s re-election hopes as the sky-rocketing cost of living will make struggling Aussie families think twice at election time. Those Aussie families are sick and tired of the gimmicks or, even worse, the lack of policy direction from federal Labor. Take, for example, small business concerns about the growing market and contractual power of larger businesses. And what about the concerns increasingly expressed by farmers about their dealings with food processors and the major supermarket chains? penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/small-business-needs-a-heavyweight-in-cabinet-julia/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/small-business-needs-a-heavyweight-in-cabinet-julia/#item7882 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/zumbos-wrap-what-2011-meant-for-small-business/ As 2011 fast comes to an end it’s timely to reflect on the significant policy reforms that gave small businesses a helping hand during the year. Central to these reforms has been the move towards Small Business Commissioners around the country. The year started off with the South Australian Small Business Minister, Tom Koutsantonis, launching a period of wide ranging consultation with small businesses in that State. With South Australia’s draft small business commissioner reforms unveiled in February and explained during information briefing sessions across Adelaide and regional South Australia, there was considerable excitement amongst small business and farmers that they would finally have an independent person to turn to in the event of a dispute with a larger business. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/zumbos-wrap-what-2011-meant-for-small-business/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/zumbos-wrap-what-2011-meant-for-small-business/#item7416 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wanted-a-tough-cop-on-the-small-business-beat/ Finally, we have a government willing to stand up for small business in the face of hysterical opposition from the big end of town and their legal advisers. Last week the South Australian Labor Government successfully got its small business commissioner reforms through the Parliament. Those reforms had been subject to a frenzied attack by elements of the big end of town and their legal advisers. Despite such a self-interested and panic-stricken campaign the reforms secured the numbers in the South Australian Upper House. Like most Upper Houses in Australia, the SA Legislative Council is a place where the Government lacks the numbers and, accordingly, needs to convince the minor parties and independents of the merits of all government initiatives. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wanted-a-tough-cop-on-the-small-business-beat/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wanted-a-tough-cop-on-the-small-business-beat/#item6996 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/small-businesses-arent-muppets-theyre-a-big-deal/ We always hear about how important small business is to the economy, but we don’t often hear about governments standing up for small businesses when it comes to effective competition and consumer laws. Why? Quite simply because small businesses are all too often the ignored members of our society. The small business sector is a big employer and small business people put in some of the longest working hours operating their businesses. They can be super efficient because it’s their money on the line. There are no corporate overheads or bloated performance bonuses because the money they make is generally put back into the business. Small businesses survive on their excellent customer service and help drive innovation and product choice in their chosen areas of the economy. While they keep the big players honest, they can be victims of abuses of market or contractual power by those big players. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/small-businesses-arent-muppets-theyre-a-big-deal/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/small-businesses-arent-muppets-theyre-a-big-deal/#item6804 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Hey-feds-make-small-business-your-business/ The Federal budget highlights one great need for small business, and that is a rational coherent national strategy. This budget and indeed the last 20 federal budgets have included a whole range of good and bad measures for small business people. But there has never been a strategy to underpin those measures. There has never been a real statement of aims and objectives that we want to achieve. There has never been a documented comprehensive vision for the families who earn their living from their own business and who employ almost five million other people, and underpin our economic health. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Hey-feds-make-small-business-your-business/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Hey-feds-make-small-business-your-business/#item5849 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/lets-get-medieval-on-insurance-comapnys-asses/ With the fate of the proposed flood levy hanging in the balance as we await the outcome of negotiations between Senator Nick Xenophon and the Federal Government, it‘s timely to have a close look at the whole issue of disaster insurance and the insurance industry generally. A sad reality emerging from this summer’s national disasters is that not only have we been as a nation generally under-insured for natural disasters, but more significantly for consumers the insurance companies are basically a law unto themselves when it comes to paying out on insurance contracts. As anyone who has tried to take on an insurance company knows all too well, the legal cards are stacked in the company’s favour. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/lets-get-medieval-on-insurance-comapnys-asses/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/lets-get-medieval-on-insurance-comapnys-asses/#item5269 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 A world map depicting what the Earth would look like upside down leans against the front door of Mapworld’s temporary digs in Henry Deane Plaza in Sydney. Appropriate, because the world of selling maps has been completely turned on its head in the past decade. The market for map purchases has shrunk dramatically thanks to new technologies like Google Maps and your GPS. Inside, the store is buzzing. Senior map consultant Izzy Perko barely has the time to stop and chat as he flits amongst shelves packed with maps of Hill End and Hamburg to check on customers. He suggests to one that they’re really looking for a more detailed map than what they’ve chosen. He’ll be with the woman looking for maps of walking trails in the Blue Mountains in a moment. Not too many moments though, because he and three of his colleagues will be unemployed come Saturday.