The NSW Government has appointed Ms Yasmin King as the State's first independent Small Business Commissioner to advocate for the State's 650,000 small businesses.

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner reports to the Small Business Minister and will provide the following support:

• provide a first-stop-shop for small business complaints about unfair market practices
• assist small businesses in their commercial dealings with other businesses
• help small business resolve disputes with other businesses
• examine complaints by small businesses regarding unfair market practices and arrange mediation
• make representations to third parties on behalf of small businesses that have made a complaint
• monitor and report to the Minister on any emerging trends in market practices that have an impact on small businesses
• review NSW laws and regulations to ensure small business is not unnecessarily hampered
• work collaboratively with private and public sector agencies to ensure unfair market practice issues that impact small business are addressed
• work with other Government agencies to ensure a focus on "small business friendly" market practices; and
• promote informed decision-making by small businesses in order to minimise disputes with other businesses.

The role of the Retail Tenancy Unit will now be responsible to the Small Business Commissioner.

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner can be contacted by:
Phone: 1300 795 534
Email: we.assist@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au
Web: www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au