Small businesses will be able to play a greater role in major projects through an enhancement of the ISONET (Industrial Supply Office) service.
ISONET is a Commonwealth-funded company that manages and co-ordinates a network providing information on Australian industry capabilities to a broad range of firms. It also assists firms to promote their capabilities and to secure contracts with major projects.
Industry, Science and Resources Minister Senator Nick Minchin says many small businesses could play a significant role in major projects if they could make project proponents aware of their capabilities.
"The government has found that multi-national proponents of major projects are willing to include Australian suppliers in their tenders but often have trouble identifying local industry capability, particularly that of smaller firms.
"By enhancing ISONET, particularly its coverage of small business, the government has moved to ensure that competitive Australian companies have the best opportunity to participate in major projects," Minchin says.
Small Business Minister Ian Macfarlane says enhancing ISONET provides the opportunity for small Australian companies to participate in major projects and, through partnership with larger firms, integrate themselves into global supply chains.
"Many small businesses do not have the resources to pursue international markets without collaborating with other firms, but ISONET provides a basis on which such collaborations can be formed," Macfarlane says.
By helping small business promote themselves to project proponents, he says the government is addressing an important information gap and answering calls for full, fair and reasonable participation by firms of all sizes in major projects.
"This initiative will assist competitive small businesses get their voice heard in a crowded marketplace. In doing so, it will maximise the involvement of these firms in projects both in Australia and overseas," he says.
Macfarlane today also announced an upgrade of information provision services for small businesses.
An electronic business directory service will be made available for small businesses to register their trading information, goods and services online.
The service will be able to be used to verify the ABN, e-commerce details and terms of trade of potential business partners.
An online Business Resource Facility (BRF) service will be introduced to give small businesses easier access to government through an expansion of the existing Business Entry Point (BEP).
"The new BRF service will collect information relevant to starting and running a business – the information most commonly sought. BRF will cover training, networking, mentoring and advisory services, and government assistance and grants – and it will be better presented," he says.
The Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business will assist Commonwealth agencies to adapt and apply standards for presenting their tenders and assistance programs online.
The use of improved, universal descriptors by government agencies will give small business more accurate, precise and timely access to the online information and services they want.
For example, they will be able to search for information based on descriptors such as industry or location.
It is anticipated that the first phase of the BRF will be available in late-2001.
The BEP
website has already been redesigned to make it easier for businesses to seek out information and services relevant to them.
In another significant initiative, the government announced a whole-of-government framework to validate Australian Business Number Digital Signature Certificates.
Macfarlane says the authentication framework will provide a service is similar to the service merchants use to verify credit cards.
It will allow participating government agencies to validate a wide range of digital certificates for use in online transactions.
"A digital certificate is like an electronic passport. Once it is verified, it provides a high level of certainty that the person holding the certificate is who they say they are," Macfarlane says.
"This high level of confidence is important for small businesses to be willing to transact online."
For more information on this, and the other e-commerce initiatives, visit
Macfarlane's website.
Additional government announcements today for small business include: