Under section 5(2)(c) of the Small Business Commissioner Act 2003, one of the functions of the Small Business Commissioner is:
“to receive and investigate complaints by small businesses regarding unfair market practices and mediate between the parties involved in the complaint”
To read more about the Small Business Commissioner’s functions under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2003, click here.
The process for dealing with a dispute referred to the VSBC under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2003 involves:
- the Small Business Commissioner writing to the Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director of the business, organisation or agency which is the subject of the complaint (respondent), enclosing a copy of the complaint
- the Commissioner's letter makes preliminary inquiries in respect of the application in order to resolve this matter
- the purpose of such inquiries is to seek the comments/assistance of the respondent in a cooperative and consultative way to assist consideration of what further action the VSBC may take (including the mediation of such complaints)
- when the VSBC receives comments from the respondent, these are forwarded to the applicant for consideration
- depending on the applicant's response to these preliminary inquries, the VSBC may arrange mediation between the parties or investigate the matter further.
If you would like to notify the Office of the Victorian Small Business Commissioner of a dispute concerning an unfair market practice, download the application form here, complete it, mail it to the Office of the Victorian Small Business Commissioner, Level 2, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, 3000, fax it to (03) 9651 9943, or email it to
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. If you have any queries, contact the VSBC on (03) 9651 9316.
For more information about Small Business Commissioner dispute resolution and investigations, refer to the factsheets below.
vsbc_dispute_resolution_factsheet.pdf