Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Small business is the engine room of the economy and it is a major source of jobs. It encapsulates the spirit of having a go and being prepared to put your ideas on the line, making your contribution to the local economy. I recently had the pleasure of welcoming to Boothby the Honourable Bruce Billson, Minister for Small Business, to host a forum for local businesses. I would like to thank the local small business owners who came to that forum to ask the minister questions, share their concerns and experiences, and give him feedback about how a Coalition government can help make running their businesses easier and more productive.

We then visited the local Mitcham Square shopping centre to speak directly with local business owners. We visited the local bookstore, Mostly Books; the fruit and veg shop, Banana Boys; the cafe; and the Mitcham newsagent. They are all very different types of business, but all have to manage employees, payroll, tax, regulatory compliance and every other aspect of their business with very limited resources. One thing was very clear: the local business owners at the forum and shopping centre seemed grateful that there was someone in cabinet who understood them and whose job it is to be their voice in Canberra. With the Minister for Small Business, they have a minister with direct experience of the difficulties in running a small business who can talk to them on their level and is genuinely interested in their feedback. The government and the Minister for Small Business understand small business and the vital contribution the sector makes to the community— (Time expired)