Small Business “Left in Limbo” by Underwhelming Budget, says COSBOA

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has called the Federal Budget 2025-26 a missed opportunity to drive the engine room of the economy. COSBOA CEO Luke Achterstraat said the budget largely overlooked small business during the most challenging environment in living memory.

“With decade-high insolvencies and crippling energy, rent and input costs, this Budget had the opportunity to provide a long-term roadmap for small business growth.”

“Unfortunately, the Budget largely recycles existing policies and fails to substantially deliver for the 2.5 million small businesses in Australia and the 5 million people they employ.”

Mr Achterstraat said the Government had left millions of small businesses in limbo about the future of the Instant Asset Write-Off (IAWO) by failing to account for it in the Budget papers.

“Small business needs certainty when it comes to the Instant Asset Write-Off. Not only is this measure unaccounted for in the budget, but it is yet to even be legislated for this financial year.”

“In a volatile economic environment, the IAWO should be made permanent to provide an added incentive to invest and improve business.”

Mr Achterstraat urged the government to put more meat on the bones of the National Small Business Strategy.

“We know that state and territory coordination is critical to the small business ecosystem, and we urge all levels of government to roll up their sleeves.”

COSBOA welcomed measures to help level the playing field for small business including extending Unfair Trading Practice protections to small businesses, and to businesses regulated by the Franchising Code of Conduct, including automotive dealers.

However, Mr Achterstraat concluded that Australia would face lagging productivity, reduced competition and lower living standards until small businesses were empowered to succeed.

“With an election pending, we challenge both major parties to propose substantive development and growth strategies for small business, providing certainty and encouragement to the 5.6 million individuals who own organisations and work in the sector.”