Abstract:
Australia, one of the most cosmopolitan of contemporary western societies,has a long history
of immigrant entrepreneurship, with many ethnic groups significantly over-represented in
entrepreneurial activities, particularly in the small business sector of the Australian economy.
This paper addresses the changing policy context that shapes the rate of formation of - and the
growth and expansion of - ethnic enterprises in Australia. At a macro level, changes to
Australian immigration and settlement policy and taxation policy indirectly impact on rates
of immigrant minority entrepreneurship formation and survival. At the micro level, policy
development that impacts directly on minority immigrant enterprises in Australia is very recent
and largely undeveloped.This paper looksat immigrant entrepreneurship in Australia, including
spatial dimensions, and at the impact of changing macro policy. It then reviews three
key areas of micro policy responsesto immigrant entrepreneurship: the education and training
needs of ethnic entrepreneurs; policies designed to encourage unemployed immigrants to
become entrepreneurs; and policy related to government strategies to improve communication
with ethnic entrepreneurs. This paper concludes that there are few direct policy initiatives to
promote immigrant entrepreneurship in Australia.
