The Victorian Small Business Commissioner’s office is celebrating six years of dispute resolution and has just handled its 5500th case. The office has established an alternative dispute resolution service which has involved not just local small business but national franchises.  

Commissioner Mark Brennan said “Small business operations in dispute appreciate our mediation service because of its non-threatening approach.”  

The office is unique in Australia and has a low cost $195 fee per party. Mediators and staff involved in pre mediation discussions have achieved a success rate of about 80 percent in disputes worth more than $200 million.  

The office was launched by the Victorian Government to provide a competitive and fair operating environment for the state’s 500,000 small business operators.

The commissioner’s power stretches nationally, and internationally, provided a Victorian company is involved.