How Home-Based Online Business Can Help The Australian Government Get Out of Debt (Part 2)

While this article series was written with the Australian economy in mind, the ideas are relevant for anybody, anywhere in the world.

This is a three part series about the current financial crisis we find ourselves in, how home-based online businesses can assist the Government get ‘out of the poo’ (and what it needs to do now) and how ordinary Australians can use the power of the internet to play our part and help out.

Part 2 covers:

• Government Job Creation Initiatives and Why More Needs to Be Done
• Existing Government Support for Online Business
• The Need for Government to take Action Now and Recognise the Importance of Home-Based Online Businesses

Government Job Creation Initiatives and Why More Needs to Be Done

The Government’s job creation agenda could be more successful if they broadened the popular definition of employment from the employer-employee relationship, where the employee receives compensation for work performed, to more commonly include self-employment and other activities that result in income being generated.

Specifically, by encouraging Australians who do not have a traditional ‘job’ and who do not generate income from passive means to utilize their time and resources to earn an income by working from home, specifically by harnessing the power of the internet and making money online.

Existing Government Support for Online Business

Admittedly, a number of Commonwealth and State government departments are already working at improving the ability of Australians to work from home, start up businesses and take advantage of online money making opportunities.

Here is a list of just some of the agencies that are helping out and how they are doing it:

• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Has links to some handy websites including www.workplace.gov.au, www.business.gov.au, the new enterprise incentive scheme and several small business advisory services.

• Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

In charge of delivering high-speed internet as part of the National Broadband Network, focuses on online safety and security and digital economy initiatives.

It started the Australia Telework Advisory Committee that has a really interested review happening at the moment on teleworking. They have received submissions from close to a hundred organisations and agencies supporting and advising on the rise of teleworking in Australia and the world.

• Australian Bureau of Statistics

It works to improve measurements of the digital economy, collects Census data on internet and technology use and all sorts of interesting stuff.

Most of their reports are available for free now and it is a great source for market research. Plug in a post-code and your selected market demographics appear instantly on your screen.

Warning: it may take a little bit of trial and error to find things. You might want to do an Advanced Google search and type in their URL (abs.gov.au) and search on your keywords – then go to the link on their site. This is often a lot easier than surfing their internal search engine.

• The Tax Office

Develops educational materials to advise micro and small businesses how they can follow the rules – to avoid the pain later – but also provide financial assistance in the form of grants, subsidies and refunds (if you’re lucky) to help you get your feet on the ground. There are several entrepreneur benefits for new business start-ups that free up more of your money to survive and grow the initial ‘danger’ period when cash flow can be a major issue.

The Tax Office also has many handy guides on what to expect in your first year of business, how others operate in your industry, what your rights and responsibilities are and most importantly you can get free advice without having to pay a tax agent hundreds of your hard-earned cash.

If you think you have a unique situation that you need help with, give them a call and get some advice. If you want their answer you can usually get something called a ‘private binding ruling’ that virtually guarantees their response later – if what you tell them in the first place is accurate.

• Australian Institute of Criminology

It researches issues including as e-security, e-crime and digital confidence. By understanding the enemy, hopefully law enforcement agencies can provide better protection and prevent major financial heartache when we are ripped off by online scams, phishing and outright fraud.

• Queensland State Government

The Q2 plan for Tomorrow’s Queensland is most interesting. Brisbane is running a four-week pilot in June 2009 that sees many government and private organisations encouraging their workers to try out a compressed working week, flexible hours and telecommuting. Locals can even score a $500 bicycle and free public transport vouchers!

The Need For Government To take Action Now and Recognise The Importance of Home-Based Online Businesses

The Government’s position to actively support the home-based online workforce is strengthened in the current environment.

Technological Advancements

A virtual team is made up of employees who work together but are not physically co-located. Advancements in telecommunications and other technologies such as teleconferencing, videoconferencing, voicemail, network computing, mobile phones, portable personal organizers, email, internet, faxing, text and image scanning, portable data storage and remote access make the sharing of information between remote localities quick and simple. Transfer of electronic data also enhances record keeping and accountability.

Computer Literacy

Anecdotal evidence suggests Australians are generally computer literate with high expectations of getting up-to-date news on the internet, often in preference to sensationalized, printed and televised news and stories.

Children receive internet and computer skills training from the age of three in preschool and childcare centres.

Senior citizens are encouraged to use their brains surfing the web to offset neural disorders and maintain a younger ‘brain age’.

Internet usage is up, as is computer ownership with many households owning more than one computer as a result of regular upgrading their equipment. The Government’s National Broadband Initiative will continue to feed these trends.

Give Australians What They Want, Promote Telecommuting

There is mounting evidence that Australians have a strong desire for flexible working practices and are supportive of telecommuting and working remotely. The following two extracts are indicative of current internet reports.

Recent independent research reveals an evolving trend to the location-independent workplace. The report surveyed over 600 employees in the US, Britain and Australia, as well as 300 small businesses. It revealed 58% of Australian full-time workers would like to work remotely, yet 66% ‘never’ have the ability to do so. Nearly one fifth of Australian workers would give up five per cent of their salary to work from home. (Citrix Online)

Despite the numerous benefits of telecommuting, ranging from reduced traffic congestion and emissions and better work-life balance to a happier workforce and assistance with pandemic and business continuity planning – there is a perception that employers and governments are not supportive enough of telecommuting. If the Government starts to really openly support this concept, then businesses will surely follow suit.

Part 3 covers:

• Online Money Making Opportunities
• What Government Needs to Understand
• Suggestions for the Government to Promote Home-Based Online Business