The Federal Government has established a Small Business Digital Taskforce, to be headed by Mark Bouris AM, one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs. The taskforce will work to ensure more Australian small businesses can thrive in an increasingly digital economy.

Over the coming months the taskforce will talk to small business owners around the country about the benefits of adopting digital technologies to help their businesses operate more efficiently, giving them more time to grow their business.

The taskforce will report their findings to the government by the end of February 2018.

Mr Bouris will be joined on the taskforce by business leaders Mr Spiro Pappas, Ms Pip Marlow, Ms Su McCluskey, Mr Gerd Schenkel, as well as Mr David Coleman MP and the Hon Craig Laundy MP, Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said “I was thrilled that Mark has taken up our invitation to chair the taskforce and to be able to say to him: You’re Hired! He is the right man for the job”.

Mark Bouris said: “When a business begins to digitise and use digital tools, it opens up new opportunities to grow, diversify revenue streams, find talent, access finance, work smarter and enhance the value of the business when it is time to sell. If you’re not going digital, you should be.”

The Taskforce will use a series of meetings, workshops and hackathons with businesses to explore impediments for business in engaging with digital technologies and how these impediments might be addressed.

“Adopting digital practices makes small businesses more competitive and helps them take advantage of new opportunities,” Minister McCormack said.

“This Government backs small businesses to help them thrive, realise their full potential and create more local jobs.”

“We want more small businesses to participate and shape Australia’s digital economy and working with businesses on solutions that will help them is critical – we want to hear ideas from across the country, so get involved,” said Assistant Minister Laundy.

Minister Morrison was keen to emphasise the impact of small business on the Australian economy saying “Small business is at the heart of the Australian economy – 3.2 million small businesses employ around 50 per cent of Australia’s workforce, or around 5.6 million Australians. But many are not taking advantage of the opportunities that the digital economy offers.” 

“If we empower small businesses to digitise and streamline their operations, the economy benefits through an increase in productivity and through job creation. Everyone wins.”

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