Read about how the ABN is discussing a range of public policy issues identified by you; our ABN community, with Government and Opposition politicians. Some issues you raised included: the need for more government support for women in small business, compliance and regulatory issues for small business and the national issue of skills shortages.  Download  herVoice’s Spring newsletter here!

The Productivity Commission’s draft report on Paid Parental Leave has now been released. The report may be downloaded in whole or in part from the inquiry website at: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/parentalsupport

A detailed description of the draft model of paid parental leave that the Commission is proposing is contained in chapter 2, which also provides an overview of the reasoning behind each element in the model.

The ABN will be preparing a submission to the Commission – if you’d like to contribute, please email policy@abn.org.au with your comments, or call Susan McGrath on (07) 5592 3083 / 0439 908 108.  

The ACT Government has announced two new grant programs; one to assist with buiding an overseas brand and one to assist with commercialisation.  

TradeConnect (TCon)—Building Global OpportunitiesAn ACT Government grant program assisting ACT companies build global opportunities and enhance international opportunities.

InnovationConnect (ICon)—Accelerating Creative Ideas

An ACT Government grant program designed to provide creative innovators and entrepreneurs with limited funding support that will accelerate the progress of viable, creative ideas along the development and commercialisation pathway.

For further information on the above grants and assistance programs, visit the Business and Industry Development Website. Click here for details.

As part of our mission to keep politicians up to date with the issues and barriers that women in business face, today I had the great pleasure of meeting with Julie Bishop MP, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Employment, Business and Workplace Relations. 

She expressed a lot of interest in the ABN’s herVoice public policy and advocacy initiative and in the views of our members on changes in legislation such as the imminent change to unfair dismissal laws. 

We’ll keep you informed. In the meantime please table your concerns and issues on any issues that we can address with the government by emailing policy@abn.org.au.