Business owners could soon have access to simplified rules for leasing retail spaces, regardless of where they operate.
The federal government will begin talks with traders and landlords about simplifying laws around commercial tenancies and retail leases in a bid to make it easier for small businesses to expand.
Consultation, which begins on Monday, will look at leasing rules, rent reviews and dispute resolution.
Small Business Minister Anne Aly said the consultation would help to eliminate unnecessary rules to set up companies and ensure laws were not duplicated between jurisdictions.
“The Albanese Labor government wants to make running a small business as easy as possible,” she said.
“We want to hear directly from businesses about where the system is creating unnecessary complexity and how we can make it easier to operate and grow.”
Assistant Productivity Minister Andrew Leigh said current rules often imposed restrictions on business owners looking to expand into different states or territories.
“Australian businesses shouldn’t need a new rule book every time they cross a state border,” he said.
“Different leasing rules can mean extra legal costs and extra work for a business wanting to open in another state.”
Dr Leigh said the consultation would be about making the current rules simpler, rather than imposing identical rules on every state and territory.
The Shopping Centre Council of Australia welcomed the planned harmonisation of retail tenancy laws.
Chief executive Angus Nardi said it would mean more productivity for businesses in the retail space.
“Retail lease legislation is an area where greater harmonisation could reduce unnecessary cost, complexity and delays,” he said.
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