Australian Greens Introduce Bill to Give Federal Small Business Commissioner Some Teeth

The Australian Greens will today seek to formalise the role of the Federal Small Business Commissioner in legislation with a private member’s bill to be introduced to the Senate.

Greens small business spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated the Party was committed to seeing the role given some ‘real teeth’ in order for it to operate effectively.

The Australian Greens today announced their intention to formalise the role of the Federal Small Business Commissioner in legislation with a private member’s bill to be introduced into the Senate in late February.

Greens small business spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated the Party was committed to seeing the role given some ‘real teeth’ in order for it to operate effectively.

Greens Deputy Leader and banking spokesperson, Adam Bandt, today released a proposal to ban the big 4 banks from charging ATM fees.

"The big 4 banks should be required to offer fee-free ATM access to all Australians," said Mr Bandt.

"The big banks made $23bn profits last year, yet they still charge us for the privilege of accessing our own money.

"You can't get by in society without a bank account, so it should be treated as an essential service, not an opportunity to charge us more fees.

The concern over a recent Instagram announcement regarding copyright laws shows how important it is to ensure we have clearly explained protections for social media users, the Australian Greens said.

“The Greens want guaranteed protections for consumers against commercial exploitation by social media corporations,” the Greens’ consumer affairs spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

Claims that beverage companies are profiteering from container deposit schemes in South Australia and the Northern Territory will be the subject of a Senate inquiry.

Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Independent senator Nick Xenophon combined in the Senate on Thursday to push for an inquiry into the pricing and revenue allocation practices of the beverage industry.

Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson has welcomed the establishment of a Senate inquiry into allegations of profiteering by large beverage producers, Coca Cola, Lion and Schweppes from the South Australia and Northern Territory’s container deposit, ‘cash for containers,’ schemes.

“This is the result of a concerted effort from around 22 community organisations with significant parliamentary support,” Senator Whish-Wilson stated.

The Australian Greens say the government's proposed amendments to credit reporting and improved privacy protections are a long-overdue development that must result in better protections for consumers.

"These must compel credit providers to list in clear, simple language what information they are asking, how it will be used, and where it will be stored," Greens' consumer affairs spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said:

"Three big companies having effective control over the vast bulk of both power generation and retail in the country can only be a bad thing for both consumers and clean energy producers.

"An efficient, 100% renewable energy grid will keep power bills down, create jobs and protect the climate, but it won't necessarily serve the interests of the existing big players in the market. That's why I've asked the ACCC to look into their market power.