Australia’s small business leaders gathered in Sydney on 4 August 2026 for Day 1 of the COSBOA National Small Business Summit, the nation’s premier policy event for the sector. Emceed by Ashleigh Raper, Channel 10 Network Political Editor, the Summit brought together ministers, shadow ministers, small business commissioners, entrepreneurs, economists, industry experts and association leaders to discuss the issues shaping the future of Australia’s small businesses.
Photo credits: Jodi Weisz / Event Photos Australia
Day 1 – Tuesday 4 August 2026
The Summit began with a significant show of support for the sector, with the Hon. Richard Marles MP, Acting Prime Minister, and the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, joining COSBOA CEO Skye Cappuccio and announcing an additional $4 million investment in COSBOA’s She Means initiative. Building on the pilot program, the investment will support the initiative’s expansion over the next two years, including directly supporting 120 small businesses across Australia to help create more opportunities for women in industries where they remain underrepresented.
From there the conversation broadened to productivity, tax reform, regional growth, artificial intelligence (AI), workforce challenges and the economy. Discussions ranged from reducing red tape and simplifying regulation to fair trading, innovation and the role of technology in lifting output for small business.
Across the two days, a consistent theme emerged: while Australia’s small businesses continue to face significant economic and regulatory pressures, there is broad consensus on the need for simpler systems, practical policy and greater collaboration between government, regulators and industry. Delegates polled during the Summit rated current conditions for small business at 3.4 out of 10 and nominated cutting the compliance load and rewarding good operators as their leading priority for the year ahead. The clear message was that supporting Australia’s 2.7 million small businesses to invest, innovate and grow will be critical to improving productivity and strengthening the nation’s economy.
On the Summit main stage The Hon. Janelle Saffin MP, NSW Minister for Recovery, Minister for Small Business and Minister for the North Coast welcomed delegates and set the scene for the two days ahead. Minister Saffin acknowledged the challenges facing New South Wales’ more than 900,000 small businesses, including cash flow pressures, changing consumer behaviour and workforce shortages, particularly across regional and rural communities.
Minister Saffin outlined a number of NSW Government initiatives aimed at reducing costs and red tape, including a two-year freeze on workers compensation premiums, which is expected to avoid an estimated $4.1 billion in forecast premium increases. She also highlighted measures to make it easier for small businesses to engage directly with NSW government, reducing upfront insurance requirements when tendering and increasing procurement opportunities. In 2024-2025, one in five NSW Government contracts were awarded to small and medium enterprises. She also reinforced the NSW Government’s focus on reducing compliance, noting that every hour spent on red tape is an hour not spent serving customers.
Following the Minister’s address, COSBOA Chair Matthew Addison welcomed delegates on behalf of the organisation’s Board and team, setting the scene for the engagement ahead. Mr Addison highlighted findings from COSBOA’s Small Business Perspectives Report, released in partnership with Commonwealth Bank. While 87% of regional small businesses reported rising costs and 73% said profits had declined. In response to hiring challenges many employers are introducing flexible work [49%] and increasing wages [44%], and for business efficiency; investing in energy upgrades [21%] and adopting AI. “This is not a sector giving up,” he said. “It is the most adaptive part of our economy doing what it has always done.”
Mr Addison challenged delegates to use the Summit to move beyond discussing problems and towards practical solutions, calling for greater collaboration between government, regulators and industry.
Address from the Shadow Minister for Small Business
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training, Shadow Minister for Small Business and Shadow Cabinet Minister, outlined the Opposition’s priorities for Australia’s small business community. She focused on improving business confidence, reducing unnecessary regulation and creating the conditions for businesses to invest, acknowledging the pressures facing owners, from rising costs for power, insurance, fuel, freight and borrowing to workforce shortages and increasing compliance.
Tax reform featured prominently throughout the address, with Senator Nampijinpa Price raising concerns about proposed changes to the taxation of family trusts. She argued that major tax reforms should consider the impact on the small businesses that rely on those structures, saying money that would otherwise be spent on additional tax could instead be invested in new equipment, staff and growth.
Reaffirming the Coalition’s support for a permanent $50,000 instant asset write-off for eligible small businesses, she said, “Profit is not a dirty word. Profit is what allows a business to reinvest, employ people and grow.”
Senator Nampijinpa Price also called for regulation that is practical and easy for small business to understand and comply with, alongside affordable and reliable energy, a training system focused on skills for jobs, housing and migration settings that support workforce needs, and policies that reflect the realities of regional Australia.
Small Business Commissioners: Pressures, Priorities and Progress
Facilitated by Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Lynda McAlary-Smith, the first panel brought together Small Business Commissioners from across Australia to discuss the pressures facing businesses in their jurisdictions and the reforms needed to support long-term growth.
Kalina Koloff (NSW) described the small business sector as being in a period of significant transformation, with an ageing business owner population and fewer natural successors. She called for simpler compliance processes that reward businesses doing the right thing and allow regulators to focus on higher-risk operators.
Saj Abdoolakhan (WA) highlighted the impact of cost-of-living pressures, workforce shortages and Western Australia’s unique geography. He argued that “regulation itself is not the problem, it’s regulators not making it easy for people to comply,” while calling for stronger collaboration between government and industry.
Nicolle Kelly (QLD) spoke about the opportunities presented by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games alongside the growing challenges of severe weather events. She emphasised the importance of genuine consultation with industry to ensure policies are practical and fit for purpose.
Tim Symons (VIC) highlighted Victoria’s growing population and regional centres as opportunities for small business, while stressing the need to strengthen workforce pathways and improve collaboration across government.
The Hon. Dan van Holst Pellekaan (SA) said profitability, rather than demand, is the greatest challenge facing South Australian businesses as costs continue to rise. He encouraged representative groups to help raise awareness of the support available through Small Business Commissioners.
Despite the different priorities across each jurisdiction, the Commissioners agreed on the need to simplify regulation, improve information sharing and work more closely with industry to ensure policies reflect the realities of running a small business.
Read the Business Builders write-up: Small business commissioners unite on small business headaches
Address from the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
The Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, outlined the Australian Government’s workplace relations agenda and its focus on supporting small businesses to grow and employ more Australians. Minister Rishworth highlighted reforms to make enterprise bargaining simpler for small business, $20 million over four years for the Fair Work Ombudsman to provide free, tailored advice specifically for small businesses, and recent legislation making it easier for the Fair Work Commission to dismiss frivolous or vexatious claims. She said many businesses had told her they wanted “clear rules and confidence they are doing the right thing.”
Minister Rishworth also outlined the Government’s plans to establish a dedicated Fair Work Court, providing a specialist judicial forum and a single federal pathway for workplace disputes under the Fair Work Act. She said extensive consultation would help shape the Court’s design, scope and interaction.
Turning to AI, she highlighted more than $25 million invested in Round 3 of the Digital Solutions program to provide practical support to help small businesses adopt AI. She also discussed the AI Employment and Workplaces Forum, which brings together business, unions and government and is developing best-practice guidance for AI adoption, with COSBOA and the broader small business community to be engaged in that work.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting small businesses through measures including the permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off and retaining all four existing small business capital gains tax concessions. She also highlighted plans to increase the turnover threshold for the CGT reduction on active assets to $10 million.
From Global Developments to Small Business Reality – The Economic Outlook
In this session, business leaders examined the global and domestic trends influencing Australia’s economy and what they mean for small business. Facilitated by Robert Tedesco, Vice President & General Manager at American Express, the discussion covered geopolitical and economic uncertainty, productivity, tax reform, supply chain disruption, AI, changing consumer behaviour and the practical steps businesses can take to navigate change.
Stephen Walters, Optimal Economics, encouraged businesses to focus on what they can control, adapt where supply chains are at risk, continue looking for growth opportunities and closely manage costs. He described Australia’s productivity performance as the worst in six decades and called for whole-of-system tax reform, reduced regulatory burden and a balanced approach to AI regulation that allows businesses to capture its potential productivity benefits.
Liam Dillon, Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), urged businesses to seek balanced perspectives amid a news cycle that can amplify extreme views. He highlighted the resilience of the Australian and global economies and discussed the barriers that continue to limit AI adoption, including awareness, digital skills and the capacity to experiment with and implement new technologies.
Glenn Fahey, Australian Retail Council, discussed the effects of supply chain disruption, regulation, changing customer behaviour and AI on the retail sector. He highlighted increasingly price-conscious and less loyal customers are shopping around more frequently, while also pointing to the opportunities AI could create for businesses to personalise customer experience and operate at scale. He noted only one in 20 retailers had invested in AI as a core capability. On tax, he described payroll tax as distortionary and called for temporary and emergency levies introduced during COVID-19 to be reviewed.
Tim Beresford, Australian Financial Security Authority, reminded businesses that “cash is king”, encouraging owners to understand their cash flow, build buffers, draw on trusted advisers and act early when signs of financial stress emerge. He identified construction, transport and logistics, and retail among the sectors facing particular pressure.
Small Business Innovators – Startups, Setbacks and Breakthroughs
Facilitated by Ann Davey, CEO of Massage & Myotherapy Australia and COSBOA Board Director, this session brought together founders from across a range of industries to share the realities of starting, growing and scaling innovative businesses. From innovation, AI, access to capital, manufacturing, to regulation and technology, the discussion explored the challenges founders face and the lessons required to turn an idea into a sustainable business.
Suji Sanjeevan (BrandScent) reflected on growing a business by finding new applications for scent technology across areas including brand experiences, sport, health and aged care. She discussed the practical challenges of scaling, from meeting regulatory requirements to implementing new technologies such as AI, while encouraging founders not to let perfection stand in the way of progress.
Cordelia King (Superstat) discussed how AI and computer vision are transforming sports analytics and accelerating the speed of product development. Drawing on her experience building technology for amateur sports, she encouraged founders to focus first on the problem they are trying to solve, speak directly with customers and validate the need before building a solution.
Klaus Bartosch (CardiAction) argued that AI is reshaping the speed at which businesses can innovate but warned that Australia’s regulatory and funding environment is struggling to keep pace. He called for greater support for founders through improved access to capital and policies that encourage innovation rather than constrain it.
Archana Nanthakumar (Good Grains) reflected on building a food business grounded in health and nutrition, highlighting resilience and problem-solving as essential qualities for founders. She also spoke about the value of bringing together people with different skills and perspectives to strengthen innovation.
Beyond the Cities – Backing Regional Small Business
Facilitated by Skye Cappuccio, CEO of COSBOA, this panel brought together industry leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing regional small businesses, including workforce shortages, rising costs, energy, insurance and migration. The discussion focused on practical policy solutions to strengthen regional economies and support long-term growth.
Dr Michael Schaper, Energy Consumers Australia, highlighted the growing impact of the energy transition on small businesses and encouraged owners to review their energy providers and prepare for greater electrification. He also called for a trusted, central source of information on energy providers to help businesses navigate the changing energy landscape.
Alexandra Hordern, Insurance Council of Australia, discussed rising insurance costs driven by increasing climate risk and advocated for greater investment in community resilience. She also encouraged businesses to work with trusted brokers to better understand and manage risk.
The Insurance Council also launched its ‘Why are we waiting?’ campaign, joining business, consumer and community groups in calling for the NSW Emergency Services Levy on insurance to be scrapped. The Council says the levy adds around 34 per cent to the cost of business insurance in NSW, adding to affordability pressures for small businesses.
Constantine Paxinos, Migration Institute of Australia, challenged the growing narrative that migration is contributing to Australia’s housing pressures, arguing that skilled migration can play an important role in addressing workforce shortages and building more homes. He called for migration settings that better reflect regional workforce needs and encouraged greater use of targeted regional migration pathways.
Michael Guerin, National Farmers’ Federation, identified workforce shortages and rising business costs as major pressures on regional Australia. He pointed to the successful collaboration between government and industry in responding to the recent fuel supply shortages as a model for future policy responses.
Emerging Policy Issues
In the final session of Day One, COSBOA Chief Operating Officer Will Harris drew together the themes from across the day and put them back to the room. Asked for one word to describe the day’s discussions, delegates most often said AI, tax, challenges and regulation. Asked to rate current conditions for small business on a scale from hostile to thriving delegates returned an average of just 3.4 out of 10. The most common response was 3. Delegates were then asked where COSBOA should focus its efforts over the year ahead. Cutting the compliance load and rewarding good operators emerged as the leading priorities, closely followed by fixing the tax system rather than further tinkering. Insurance a small business can actually buy, practical support for AI implementation and better support for businesses trying to scale were also identified as priorities.
The session reinforced that many of the challenges are not problems created by small businesses themselves, but by the systems and policy settings surrounding them.
Summit Gala Dinner
COSBOA CEO Skye Cappuccio welcomed guests to the Summit Gala Dinner, reflecting on the passion and determination in the room to move beyond discussing the challenges facing small business and towards practical ideas and solutions.
We also heard from Robert Tedesco, Vice President and General Manager, Local Merchant Services, Australia and New Zealand at American Express, who shared how American Express continues to back small businesses through initiatives including Shop Small.
A great evening to connect, continue the conversations from day one and celebrate Australia’s small business community.
Address by Senator the Hon. Jane Hume
Senator the Hon. Jane Hume, Acting Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Shadow Minister for Productivity and Deregulation, said Australia’s productivity and economic growth depend on creating an environment where small businesses are trusted to invest, employ and grow.
She outlined three priority areas for the Coalition:
- Reducing unnecessary regulation and compliance
- Streamlining approvals and government processes
- Encouraging business investment and productivity
Industrial relations also featured prominently, with Senator Hume calling for workplace laws that are “simple, fair and productive”. She also committed to scrutinising the proposed Fair Work Court against those principles, including whether it would help resolve workplace disputes more quickly or create another layer of process.
Throughout the address, Senator Hume argued that regulation should protect people without creating unnecessary complexity, leaving delegates with a clear message that productivity is strengthened when governments remove barriers and allow small businesses to focus on growing their businesses.
