{"id":"F2020L01413","name":"Industry Research and Development (Supporting Small Business to Go Digital Post-COVID-19 Program) Instrument 2020","slug":"industry-research-and-development-supporting-small-business-to-go-digital-post-covid-19-program-inst","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":440653,"registerId":"F2020L01413-fast-fetch-1775956216931","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Industry Research and Development (Supporting Small Business to Go Digital Post-COVID-19 Program) Instrument 2020","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nIndustry Research and Development (Supporting Small Business to Go Digital Post‑COVID‑19 Program) Instrument 2020\n\nI, Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, make the following instrument.\n\nDated    4 November 2020\n\nMichaelia Cash\n\nMinister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Definitions\n\n5 Prescribed program\n\n6 Specified legislative power\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Industry Research and Development (Supporting Small Business to Go Digital Post-COVID-19 Program) Instrument 2020.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this instrument The day after this instrument is registered. 10 November 2020\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 33 of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Industry Research and Development Act 1986.\n\nprogram: see subsection 5(1).\n\n5  Prescribed program\n\n (1) For the purposes of subsection 33(1) of the Act, the Supporting small business to go digital post‑COVID‑19 Program (the program) is prescribed.\n\n (2) The program provides funding for a “Go Digital” advertising campaign, including funding for:\n\n (a) the promotion of:\n\n (i) the benefits of digital technology to small business; and\n\n (ii) the Australian Small Business Advisory Services Program; and\n\n (iii) other Australian government services directed towards supporting the digital capability of small business; and\n\n (b) the development and promotion of COVID‑19‑specific case studies of small businesses highlighting the benefits of implementing digital technologies.\n\n (3) The purpose of the program is to encourage small business owners to implement digital technologies that include an online element.\n\n6  Specified legislative power\n\n  For the purposes of subsection 33(3) of the Act, the power of the Parliament to make laws with respect to postal, telegraphic, telephonic, and other like services (within the meaning of paragraph 51(v) of the Constitution) is specified.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not change the statutory scope of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986. It prescribes a specific program within the Act’s existing s33 power and specifies a constitutional head of power for delivery (s5, s6). It limits itself to funding promotional activities to encourage adoption of online digital technologies and does not expand regulatory obligations or amend the Act’s substantive reach."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument with limited provisions (s5 sets program scope).","Relies on existing statutory power in s33 of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986—no amendment to primary legislation.","Specifies constitutional head of power (postal/telegraphic/telephonic services) to support delivery (s6).","Uses broad, non‑technical terms like “digital technologies” and “online element” (s5(3)), creating interpretive discretion for implementers.","Funding and implementation mechanics are not detailed—administration, procurement and budget sources are left to executive processes (s5(2)).","Low compliance burden on small businesses (they are targets/beneficiaries, not regulated entities), but requires inter‑agency coordination for promotion and case studies."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument prescribes the “Supporting small business to go digital post‑COVID‑19 Program” under the Industry Research and Development Act 1986 and authorises Commonwealth funding for a “Go Digital” advertising campaign and COVID‑19 case studies promoting digital technologies, the Australian Small Business Advisory Services Program and other government services. It aims to encourage small business owners to adopt digital technologies with an online element; the Minister made the instrument and the Commonwealth funds and determines campaign scope."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of establishing a specific advertising campaign to promote digital adoption among small businesses post-COVID-19. There is no evidence of scope creep or expansion beyond this narrow, well-defined objective."},"complexity_factors":["Only 6 short sections with minimal text","Just 2 defined terms ('Act' and 'program')","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling Act","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward purpose and operation with clear, simple language"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a short piece of legislation that creates a government program to help small businesses adopt digital technology after the COVID-19 pandemic. The **Supporting Small Business to Go Digital Post-COVID-19 Program** provides funding for an advertising campaign called \"Go Digital\" that promotes the benefits of digital technology to small business owners. The campaign also promotes the Australian Small Business Advisory Services Program and other government services that help small businesses improve their digital skills. Additionally, the program will create and share case studies showing how specific small businesses benefited from using digital technologies during COVID-19. The overall goal is to encourage small business owners to start using digital tools that have an online component, such as e-commerce, digital marketing, or cloud-based services. The legislation is made under the Industry Research and Development Act 1986 and relies on the Commonwealth's constitutional power over telecommunications and postal services."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-supporting-small-business-to-go-digital-post-covid-19-program-inst","history":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-supporting-small-business-to-go-digital-post-covid-19-program-inst/history","analysis":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-supporting-small-business-to-go-digital-post-covid-19-program-inst/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-supporting-small-business-to-go-digital-post-covid-19-program-inst/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-supporting-small-business-to-go-digital-post-covid-19-program-inst/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-supporting-small-business-to-go-digital-post-covid-19-program-inst/documents"}}