Thursday, 4 May 2023

Small business support

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (22:05): (187) My adjournment this evening is for the Minister for Small Business in the other place, Minister Suleyman. I rise to celebrate and speak to the continued growth of small businesses in my community of southern metropolitan Melbourne. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. They create jobs, support industry and drive our local community. They provide a strong economic foundation for millions of Victorians, and the evidence is clear. Most of the money spent in small businesses stays in the local community, and that is good for everyone.

I am proud to be part of the Andrews Labor government, a government with a track record of supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Our massive infrastructure projects, like the Big Build, have positive flow-on effects to small businesses and medium-sized enterprises and support local jobs in the manufacturing sector – building things here. For people in my community, shopping locally has always been important, and I am proud – as I am sure other members are – to support efforts to ensure that going local first becomes the norm. The Andrews Labor government is backing small business, from the Small Business Bus to grants and programs and mentoring courses which provide support for businesses to reach their potential. These tools enable small businesses to expand and reach new customers and new markets. For these small businesses, even small contributions can make a huge difference. Small businesses are an integral part of the Victorian economy. It just makes sense to support them. As Victorians become more and more urban, small businesses are essential to keeping communities together.

I am excited to announce that Business Victoria’s Small Business Bus is visiting Port Melbourne on Wednesday 10 May. That is right – my neck of the woods for the last 25 years and my community of southern metropolitan Melbourne. It will be at Port Melbourne town hall at 333 Bay Street from 10 am to 4 pm, and I encourage all businesses and people interested to register their interest. People can drop in and pick up information, or if you need a free 45-minute consultation, I encourage you to book online at business.vic.gov.au. It is clear that our government is putting in the work to support small businesses. That is why the action that I seek is for the Minister for Small Business in the other place, Minister Suleyman, to join me in my community of southern metropolitan Melbourne to talk to the many small businesses that have benefited from the Andrews Labor government’s programs and join me on the Small Business Bus soon.