Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Working with local government to reach small business

Launched in July 1998, Business Entry Point (BEP), www.business.gov.au, provides business with an easy, quick and efficient way to interact with government. Managed by the Office of Small Business, the BEP is a whole of government initiative that will streamline the provision of government services to small businesses, across Federal, State and Territory and local governments.

Currently BEP can provide access to a wide range of information and allows combined transactions with a number of federal government agencies, including the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and with state bodies such as the Victorian and South Australian governments.

Over the coming year, BEP will be expanding to incorporate a payments facility and more information and transactions across State, Territory and local governments, enabling business to access a greater range government services online.

The BEP Management Branch in the Office of Small Business is working closely with consultative groups from Commonwealth, State, Territory and local governments and representatives from industry associations.

This consultation is to ensure that the initiative continues to satisfy the needs of small business. Issues around security and privacy are being examined through the Legal Issues Group whose membership draws on legal and policy experts from within Commonwealth government agencies.

Good news for local government
Local government provides a diverse range of services to the business community. The BEP recognises this and is focussing on the local government sector as a valued collaborative partner.

Many government agencies already have online facilities for businesses or individuals to make enquiries, lodge applications or fulfil requirements for licences, registrations and approvals. A growing number of local government bodies already have an Internet presence.

These will soon be able to more readily and securely set up Internet facilities for collecting payments from their clients, through the Business Entry Point initiative.

Offering clients the ability to make payment via the Internet is the logical extension for councils which are looking to upgrade their customer service and streamline operations by improving their range of online transactions.

The Office of Small Business (OSB), in the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business (DEWRSB) has $1M available over a 2-year period to support demonstration projects relating to the Business Entry Point (BEP) Initiative.

The main focus of the BEP demonstration program is on the development of on-line transactions that improve interactions between government and business.

The demonstration projects will show how innovative online technologies can make it easier for businesses to comply with government requirements using the Business Entry Point concept. The projects, which could be at any level of government, will demonstrate how the BEP can be used to deliver benefits.

Further advice on how the BEP system can work for your local government agency or business community and how it will shape economic development, is available from Paul Griffin from the BEP Management Branch email paul.griffin@dewrsb.gov.au or by phone on (02) 6121 7178.

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