Small business, big say: New consulting group announced

Small business owners are being invited to pull up a (virtual) chair and have their say, with the Australian Government setting up a new Small Business Consultative Group to feed real-world experience straight into Canberra.

The group is being established by the Commonwealth Minister for Small Business, the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, with an aim to hear directly from small business owners across Australia about “their experiences, challenges and ideas”.

In other words, less theory, more lived experience.

The NSW Small Business Commission is encouraging small business owners, advisers and advocates to put their hands up, calling it a valuable chance to help shape decisions that affect the sector day to day.

Giving small businesses a seat at the table

The Small Business Consultative Group, or SBCG, will act as a sounding board for government. It’s designed as a forum where people on the ground can share grass-roots insights on what’s working, what’s not, and where policy could do better.

According to the release, the group will “share grass-roots insights on contemporary issues, opportunities and successes”, provide feedback on how existing policies and regulations are landing, and help inform future small business policy.

That means everything from red tape frustrations to practical ideas that could make life easier for operators juggling cash flow, staff, customers and compliance.

How it will work

The SBCG will be made up of 10 core members, appointed on a voluntary basis for a two-year term. Meetings will be held online twice a year, making it easier for busy business owners to take part without jumping on a plane.

The first meeting is expected to take place in early 2026.

While only 10 people will be selected as core members, applying doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you miss one of those spots. Applications will also be used to create a broader pool of participants who may be invited to future meetings or consultations. Once selected, the names of the core members will be published on the Treasury website.

How to put your hand up

Small business owners, advisers and advocates who are keen to be involved can apply through the Treasury’s expressions of interest process.

Expressions of interest close on 16 January 2026, so there’s time to consider whether this is something you’d like to put your name to over the summer break.

More information about the Small Business Consultative Group, including application details, is available on the Treasury website.

For small business owners who are tired of policy being done to them rather than with them, this could be a rare chance to help shape the rules of the game.

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