2 million self-employed
Their interests are our interest
It's your contract: Take control of it!
We say you should control your contract. Here's how. Check for clauses that are:
Red for Stop
Amber for Caution
Green for Go
You can also make use of our Contract Template to design your contract.

Matrixes and template are available here (ICA members only). Not a member? Join here for as little as $55.
You and Your Contract
Charter of Contractual Fairness.

Debate: Suck it up?

Contract problems?
Fixing business disputes
There's lots happening for new dispute resolution services for small business people. The Small Business Commissioner (SBC) model is being rolled out across Australia. Explanation of developments.
Watching: The new world of work
We track and discuss what's happening with work.
The new Cuban revolution.
Watching: The coordinated attack against self-employed in Australia
Do unions hate the self-employed?
Federal tax attack
Sham contracting small problem
Watching: New Technology
Opportunities and new threats for self-employed people
Left versus right: the great debate
Ken Phillips (ICA) and Peter Strong (COSBOA) debate "The Future (or Death) of Employment". Vids are here.
Our Campaigning
We need unfair contract protections
Defend contractor tax laws
Watching: Your Super
We're monitoring superannuation
Watching: Work Safety Laws
Harmonised laws have big problems.
Watching: Government Contracts
Military Aircraft (JSF)

National Broadband Network
Watching: Fair Work Act
We're watching

What the AIG wants
Handy ATO Links
Filing your tax return:
A member's problem
ATO advice

Handy ATO tax links:
ATO debt collection: overview
ATO debt collection: 'Products'
Guide to managing your debt
Not-for-profit tax guide
Lodge your BAS online
PAYG withholding tax tables
New tax form: Taxpayer Statement of Account
New tax form: Notice of Assessment
Mortgage scams
Small business support
Payment arrangement calculator
Want an ATO visit?
ATO Help for small business
ABN eligibility rules
Self managing your tax debt

Handy Super links:
ATO SMSF compliance
ATO free seminars.
SMSF Admin advice
New Super clearing house
Tax on SMSF loans
Watching Global Economies
Watching Global Economies
Watching the USA
Watching China
Central Banks on Debt
Watching Housing Bubbles
Ken Phillips on the debt equation




























Letter to the Independents

23 August 2010




    23 August 2010

    Dear .................

    Re: Issues for small business people

    As you deliberate the formation of a new government, could you factor in the following protective policies from a new government for small business/self-employed people?

    • Retention of the Personal Services Incomes Tax (PSI) laws. This is important to give small business people tax certainty and clarity. This explains the issue.
    • Retention of the Independent Contractors Act 2006. This clarifies that self-employed people are regulated under commercial law and not industrial relations law and as such are business people. We discuss the issue here.
    • Provide unfair contract protections to small business people. This would extend the unfair contract laws available to consumers under the Trade Practices Act to small business people protecting them (us) from unfair contracts by government and big business. Again we explain the issue here.
    For your information, there are 2 million self-employed people operating their own small businesses in Australia.

    We are spread right across all of Australia and constitute 28 per cent of the private-sector workforce---a little known fact.

    Independent Contractors Australia is a not-for-profit lobbying and advocacy group dedicated to protecting the rights of self-employed small business people. We have been operating for a decade.

    If we can assist on the above three core issues or any other issue affecting small business people, we are available and eager to assist.

    Yours sincerely

    Ken Phillips
    Executive Director