The forgotten small business: the tradie.

Whilst politicians scramble to get re-elected, builders attempt to increase their female participation and developers do deals to make money … everyone has forgotten the people who actually build.

The complete neglect of sub-contractors in the discussion and the legislative and policy protections in a housing crisis is mind blowing.

We need a dedicated advocate for the 300,000 tradies in Australia before they get pushed out of their small business along with the thousands of others.

Thinking of a side hustle or a second job? ABS data in September 2024 showed 986,400 people had multiple jobs. From mowing lawns, supplying digital services, to becoming a delivery driver, Amanda Rose from Western Sydney Women talks tax implications, promoting your services and how to charge appropriately.

Western Sydney Women Founder Amanda Rose was quoted in The Australian on the recent focus on women in STEM, sparked by Robin Khuda’s $100m donation to the University of Sydney to support young women from Western Sydney in pursuing STEM careers.

The federal Labor government’s apparent disregard for small businesses, particularly women-owned businesses, has become increasingly evident.

Women comprise one-third of small businesses, a significant number considering small businesses make up 97% of all businesses in Australia, yet none were allowed to participate in the $60 million dollar Building Women’s Careers tender. This oversight contradicts the government's commitment to women's economic security, undermining the principles of International Women's Day.

In contrast, the NSW Government is taking concrete steps to address the problem, ensuring that women-owned businesses are not just casually mentioned in tenders but are actively involved throughout the contract process. They’re also breaking down tenders to make them more accessible to small businesses—something the federal government should have done long ago.