Tuesday, 2 August 2022

 Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:12:372:): My question is for the Minister for Small Business. Minister, I refer to the collapse of a number of property and construction industry groups, including Caydon, which was placed into liquidation last week. What steps is the Andrews Labor government taking to protect the many small businesses, suppliers and others impacted by the knock-on effects of these worrying collapses?

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (14:13): I thank Mr Davis for his question and his interest in the pressures that are being experienced with escalating input costs by Victoria’s construction industry. The response that I have given to Mr Davis on similar questions is largely unchanged. The department’s response is as I have previously outlined to the house, which is that we work with businesses that are impacted. We work with the larger businesses, obviously not quite directly in the small business portfolio. But my department and my colleagues work with larger organisations that are facing the kinds of challenges that Mr Davis is referring to, and then for my part in the small business portfolio we make sure that businesses throughout the supply chain are fully aware of the support that is available to them. There has been also a constant dialogue between the government and peak industry organisations, including of course those in the construction industry.

Many of these cost pressures, as I think all members would understand, arise as a result of things somewhat beyond the control of the Victorian government. The cost of steel, the availability of timber and indeed gas prices are less impacting on builders as such but certainly impacting on some in their supply chain—brickmakers, for instance. We continue to work with the industry to provide them with support as needed, and we will continue to do so.

 Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): I thank the minister for her answer, but the response was very nebulous in terms of what actual assistance is being provided. So I am just going to ask you very directly: what direct assistance is your department providing to small businesses left high and dry by these worrying collapses in the Victorian building industry?

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (14:15): Mr Davis has asked an incredibly broad question and is seeking a really quite specific answer, so in terms of some of the larger organisations within the construction industry that have experienced difficulties, there have been discussions, including some that I think are probably less than ideal for me to go freelancing about in the Parliament around individual businesses’ commercial situations and financial situations. Where small businesses are needing advice and support around the legal obligations of those that owe them money, that information is provided readily to them. Businesses are well aware of how to access available information and support. If Mr Davis were to give me a particular example of a particular insolvency or a business collapse as he is suggesting, then of course I could provide a more specific answer.