Small business to get an ombudsman

The government's small business evangelist has introduced legislation to parliament that honours an election commitment to set up an ombudsman to help the sector manage red tape.

Small Business Minister Bruce Billson told parliament on Wednesday the ombudsman would be an advocate, a "concierge" for dispute resolution and a contributor to making Commonwealth rules more small business friendly.

Mr Billson, who described himself as small business's "cabinet-level champion" and an "evangelical minister", said there were more than two million small businesses in Australia, with 70 per cent of them family enterprises.

Small businesses were often treated as if they were big businesses, with their accountants and legal departments, and faced compliance demands involving workplace relations issues, competition policy and contract, business and tax laws, he said.