At a Glance

First Term Wins 

Inserting a definition of Australian business in Commonwealth procurement

Every year, the federal government spends over $70 billion on goods and services. I’ve been determined to make sure that Australian small and medium businesses are able to compete for this work with large multinationals on a level playing field.

I got support to establish a Senate inquiry into reforming procurement rules to back Australian businesses. Through the inquiry and following its report, I haveI pushed the Government to define Australian business for procurement purposes including hosting a roundtable with local small businesses and Finance Minister and fellow ACT Senator Katy Gallagher.

In early 2025, the Government inserted a definition for Australian business. This change is a win for local jobs, fair competition, and better outcomes. I think there’s still scope to go further with this definition and will keep pushing the issue.

I’ll keep fighting to make sure public money delivers the best outcomes and that Australian businesses aren’t locked out of opportunity.

Securing Paid Parental Leave support for small business

Small businesses want to do the right thing, but they are weighed down by red tape when it comes to administering Government Paid Parental Leave.

Small businesses tell me that dealing with Services Australia is difficult and time consuming and adds massively to their already considerable unpaid administrative burden.

Services Australia pays government paid parental leave directly in the majority of cases. I argued that small business should have the option to opt-out of administering the government paid parental leave payment for free and have Services Australia pay it direct. The government refused to agree to this however in March 2024, alongside Senator Jacqui Lambie, I secured a $10 million commitment from the Government to go some way towards addressing this issue.

This win followed a Senate inquiry I initiated, which exposed the unnecessary burden current systems place on small employers and the need for real reform.

The Government agreed to:

• Streamline the administration of paid parental leave
• Reduce red tape for small businesses
• Explore payroll tech solutions to simplify the process
  

This is a step toward fairness and workability and making sure small businesses aren’t punished by clunky government systems for supporting their staff. There’s more to do, and I’ll keep pushing for reforms that back small business and build a more family-friendly economy.

Ensuring subcontractors get paid for the work they do

It’s a simple principle: if you do the work, you should get paid.

That’s why I pushed for action to address a huge issue: subcontractors not getting paid when big builders go bust.

Bigger contractors often prop up their cash flow with money owed to subbies, and when the company collapses, it’s tradies and small operators left out of pocket.

In 2022, I secured a commitment from the Prime Minister to establish a tripartite National Construction Industry Forum and respond to the 2019 Murray Review into security of payments, a comprehensive report commissioned by the former Coalition Government, that had been sitting on a shelf for far too long. With construction sector insolvencies hitting record highs, we needed action, not more delay.

I have spoken up consistently on this issue throughout the term and  in March 2025, the Government followed through, responding to the Murray Review and releasing a draft blueprint for reforming the construction industry.

But the job is not done.

One of Murray’s key recommendations: statutory trusts to protect payments owed to subcontractors wasn’t adopted by the government. I’ll keep fighting to get it done. Because doing the work should mean getting paid, on time, every time.

Negotiated a review of modern awards

We know Australia has a productivity problem and one of the biggest issues business raises with me is the complexity of “modern” awards.

As part of negotiations over the Secure Jobs, Better Pay industrial relations reform bill, I negotiated a commitment to review Modern Awards, with an initial focus on the retail sector which was completed in 2024.

Negotiated a review of small business definitions

Right now, there are multiple different definitions of small business in Commonwealth law. For industrial relations, the official definition of a small business is one that employs fewer than 15 people. This is based on head count (not full-time equivalent) and includes part-time and regular casual staff. That definition is outdated, out of touch with reality and small businesses are telling me it’s not working for them.

Many businesses with 15 or more employees still face the same challenges as bigger businesses: tight margins, limited admin capacity, and growing regulatory demands. They deserve support, not extra red tape.

In 2024, alongside Senator Jacqui Lambie, I secured a commitment from the Government to undertake a comprehensive review of the small business definition.

This is a crucial step toward:

• Reducing unnecessary red tape
• Recognising the pressures faced by small and growing businesses
• Ensuring rules and support actually match the realities on the ground
  
  

I’ll keep fighting for reforms that back small businesses with smart policy, not one-size-fits-all rules.

Protecting small businesses in workplace law reform

Following the release of the Set the Standard report into parliamentary workplaces, the Government moved to change the rules around who pays legal costs in workplace discrimination cases.

While the intention was right, to make it easier for workers to come forward, the new model is untested and poses real risks for small businesses, who could face significant legal costs even when acting in good faith. So I negotiated a formal review of the operation of the bill, to ensure any unintended consequences on small businesses are identified and addressed.

This was about getting the balance right:

• Fairer workplace protections,
• Without unfair risk for small employers
• And evidence-based review to guide any further change
  

I’ll keep pushing to make sure reforms work in the real world, supporting both fairness at work and the viability of small businesses.

Protecting small businesses in industrial relations reform

In negotiations over the Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill, I secured a range of amendments to protect small businesses from increased red tape. Notably, as a result of my negotiations, businesses with fewer than 20 employees are excluded from the single-interest multi-enterprise bargaining stream, addressing concerns about potential complexities and costs associated with multi-employer bargaining.

Legislating the small business instant asset write-off for the current financial year

On the final sitting day of the 47th Parliament, working with other crossbenchers, I secured a critical win for small businesses: the Government agreed to legislate the $20,000 instant asset write-off for the current financial year.

With insolvencies forecast to hit 16,000 this year (up 84% from pre-COVID levels) small businesses need more certainty. They need policy that backs them in.

I’m proud we got this over the line, but I’m not stopping here.

I’ll keep pushing to:

• Increase the instant asset write-off to $30,000
• Make it permanent, so small businesses can plan ahead with confidence
  

Small business is the backbone of our economy. They deserve better than last-minute deals, they deserve certainty, ambition, and real support.

What I’m Fighting For

Reform of government procurement to ensure that Australian SMEs compete for government contracts on a level playing field

For too long, local Australian SMEs have been overlooked for government contracts in favour of multinationals. There has been some progress in this term of parliament with updates to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and defining an Australian business. But these reforms need to go further I will continue to advocate for reforms to government procurement that ensure small and medium-sized Australian businesses can compete fairly for contracts, so that they can access their fair share of the $70100 billion the government spends annually on goods and services (which climbed to nearly $100 billion in the 2023-24 financial year). 

Further reforms in this space would create opportunities for local enterprises to win contracts directly, rather than acting as subcontractors to large multinationals. This will result in better value for taxpayer money, fostering retained economic benefits by supporting local business, and build sovereign capacity in industries such as defence and quantum computing. You can read more about my advocacy here and here.

Improving the definition of small business

Right now, there are multiple different definitions of a “small business” in Commonwealth law. For industrial relations law, any business with more than 15 employees is excluded from being classified as a “small business” regardless of whether they have 16 staff or 6,000. This outdated threshold means that genuinely small businesses are being lumped with the same regulatory burdens as large corporations. It’s unfair, and it’s hurting local businesses, especially in Canberra, where costs are already high.

Alongside Senator Lambie, I successfully negotiated a review of this definition and I’ll keep pushing for change. The number should reflect the realities of modern business and the outcome of the review I secured will be key to getting it right.

I’ll continue to work with business owners and industry groups to make sure the definition works for small businesses, not against them.

Statutory trusts and security of payments for subcontractors

Too often when big construction companies go bust, subcontractors and tradies are left unpaid. Even when they’ve already done the work. While employees can sometimes access their outstanding wages under a government scheme, subcontractors and small businesspeople can’t. 

With construction insolvencies at record highs, fixing this issue has never been more urgent.

That’s why I secured a commitment from the Prime Minister to respond to the 2019 Murray Review into security of payments in the construction sector, establish the National Construction Industry Forum and in 2025, the government delivered its formal response to the review and released a draft blueprint for the construction industry, following through on the promise to me. 

It’s a big step forward.  But the Murray Review made a clear recommendation that has not been adopted: establish statutory trusts to protect payments owed to subcontractors. 

I’ll keep pushing for this crucial reform so that money owed to subbies is held safely and not used to prop up a big builder’s cash flow. Subbies should be paid, on time, every time, and we need a system that guarantees it.

Permanent, higher Instant Asset Write-Off for small businesses

Small businesses are facing rising costs, economic uncertainty, and growing pressure. The government must do more to provide long-term, reliable support. That’s why I’m calling for a permanent and expanded $30,000 Instant Asset Write-Off to help small businesses invest in the equipment they need to grow.

First introduced in 2015, the Instant Asset Write-Off has been subject to temporary, last-minute changes, making it hard for businesses to plan. That uncertainty holds back investment and hurts confidence.

A higher, permanent IAWO threshold would:

• Cut red tape
• Encourage investment in new tools, technology and equipment
• Boost productivity and competitiveness
• Provide much-needed relief in challenging economic conditions
  

Small businesses are the engine of our economy. They need policy that reflects that, not short-term fixes. I’ll keep fighting for stronger, smarter support for small businesses, starting with a fairer, more stable tax system that rewards investment.

Let’s give small businesses the certainty they deserve.

Increasing productivity by helping small businesses to digitise

Small businesses are ready to modernise, but they need the right support.

I’m calling for digitisation tax incentives to help small businesses invest in technology and skills that boost productivity, cut costs, and drive growth. One proven model is the Small Business Technology Investment Boost. That program is a 20% bonus tax deduction on eligible spending for digital upgrades and staff training, including tools for accounting, e-commerce, marketing, and cybersecurity.

In 2023, I moved an amendment to extend the Boost by 12 months. Labor and the Greens voted it down. I would like to see the program reinstated and I’ll keep fighting for smart, targeted support that helps small businesses thrive in the digital economy.