Tuesday, 3 May 2022

St Albans electorate small business

Ms SULEYMAN (St Albans) (19:08): (6339) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Small Business in the other place, and the action I seek is that the Minister for Small Business provides me with an update on how the state budget will support and benefit local traders in my electorate of St Albans. Recently I had the pleasure of hosting the Treasurer along with the St Albans traders for a Q and A session in the heart of St Albans. We discussed many issues that are facing the local traders and small businesses of St Albans.

I want to take the opportunity to thank the St Albans Business Group Association, in particular Gemma Loyer and Sebastian Agricola, for all their help and support in organising the Q and A session. It was an absolutely great opportunity to talk to local businesses in the heart of St Albans, and most importantly to some of the local businesses, including Big Sam market and of course the fantastic hair salons and local Vietnamese restaurants in the heart of St Albans, along Alfrieda Street. A couple of months ago we hosted the Lunar New Year in the centre of our community, which saw close to 80 000 people attend this particular festival. It was a really great opportunity to celebrate the lunar festival, but also it showcased the many businesses in St Albans, bringing people and small businesses together to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

No doubt we have already seen some snippets from the budget, and we are making sure—and I certainly as the local member am making sure—that our small businesses are turbocharging our economy, the local economy, and of course the local community are supporting our local businesses. I know that the Andrews government will always put local small businesses at the heart of our economic agenda. And I know that the electorate of St Albans values our small businesses, whether it is our salons or whether it is our restaurants—the Vietnamese cuisines and many varieties and options that are available in the heart of St Albans. That is what makes St Albans a unique place in Melbourne.

I ask the minister to provide an update on how the state budget will support and, most importantly, benefit my small businesses in St Albans. This was a strong question that was asked during the Q and A session, and I look forward to the response. I also look forward to the St Albans local businesses going from strength to strength. I am very proud of each and every one of them, and in particular the St Albans business association for all the work that they are doing.