Disputes between small businesses in the construction sector are under-represented as a share of complaints raised to the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC), the statutory authority says, suggesting hard-hit firms are shouldering unpaid invoices or pursuing pricey legal options instead of accessing cheaper mediation services first.
Speaking at the Melbourne SmallBizWeek conference on Wednesday, Victorian small business commissioner Lynda McAlary-Smith said its mediators have worked on more than 2000 business disputes so far this year.
Hundreds of small businesses are seeking advice each week, she said, with the service helping firms resolve their disputes before they snowball into court action.
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Senior Business Journalist
Focused on the small business sector, David’s work covers the political, regulatory, and economic issues facing Australian entrepreneurs. Prior to joining SmartCompany, he was a reporter for Business Insider Australia. You can follow him on LinkedIn.
