The Office of the Victorian Small Business Commissioner (VSBC) is a State Government initiative established to promote a genuinely competitive and fair business environment for Victorian small businesses. The VSBC was established in May 2003 expressly to promote greater fairness in business through its four main functions: information and education, review of government practices, investigation of small business complaints and dispute resolution. 

The position of the Victorian Small Business Commissioner was established under its own legislation, the Small Business Commissioner Act 2003, which commenced operation on 1 May 2003. The VSBC also has a number of functions under the Retail Leases Act 2003, and the Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act 2005, and from 1 December 2011, under the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2011.

The VSBC’s functions are defined in the Small Business Commissioner Act 2003 and include the following:

• (a) to facilitate and encourage the fair treatment of small businesses in their commercial dealings with other businesses in the marketplace;
• (b) to promote informed decision-making by small businesses in order to minimise disputes with other businesses;
• (c) to receive and investigate complaints by small businesses regarding unfair market practices and mediate between the parties involved in the complaint;
• (d) to make representations to an appropriate person or body on behalf of a small business that has made a complaint referred to in paragraph (c);
• (e) to monitor and report to the Minister on any emerging trends in market practices that have an adverse effect on small businesses;
• (f) to encourage the development and implementation of small business service charters within government to ensure small businesses receive high quality service;
• (g) to monitor the operation and effectiveness of those small business service charters;
• (h) as required by the Minister, to monitor and report to the Minister on the impact that legislation in Victoria, government procedures and administration have on small businesses;
• (i) as required by the Minister, to assist other branches and agencies of government to develop legislation, government procedures and administration that provide alternative ways in which small businesses can comply with the requirements of the legislation, procedures and administration;
• (j) to investigate compliance with industry codes.

To ensure the integrity of the position, the Office of the Victorian Small Business Commissioner is a statutory office appointed by the Governor in Council.

For more information about how the Small Business Commissioner can assist, download the following brochure:

VSBC_SpeakingUp_june11.pdf