Victorian Small Business Commissioner Lynda McAlary‑Smith visited Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce this week, shedding light on the role her office plays in resolving disputes and supporting small businesses across Victoria.
The Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) is an independent body that helps small businesses resolve disputes, understand their rights, and operate in a fair and competitive environment.
The visit attracted more than 40 people from Cranbourne Cranbourne Chamber and Frankston Business Collective on the night of Thursday 19 June, with four Casey Councillors present for the night, including Deputy Mayor Cr Melinda Ambros, Cr Michelle Crowther, Cr Jennifer Dizon, and Cr Shane Taylor.
The Commissioner shared key insights from the 2023‑24 financial year, highlighting that many retail leasing disputes arose from issues like money owed, repairs and maintenance, early termination of leases, and disagreements over bond returns and make‑good obligations.
Ms. McAlary‑Smith encouraged business owners and operators to review their leases carefully, maintain open communication with landlords and suppliers, and seek professional advice when making significant decisions.
President of Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce Ian Wood said the night turned out great, and his main take from the presentation was VSBC’s ability to offer mediation.
“They will try to give businesses free advice on the phone. If there’s mediation, it’s very cheap, about $300 for half a day, which sounds reasonable to me to get the parties together to mediate,” he said.
“Those parties could be businesses that are having problems with their landlords or businesses that are having problems with government departments like the ATO and VCAT. They can assist in those areas.”
