Thursday, 22 February 2024

Greenvale businesses

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (09:43): Last week I had the great opportunity to have the Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell out to the electorate of Greenvale for a business forum. It was great to meet with local businesses, to hear from them and hear their issues – local businesses and businesspeople such as Jemal Hasan from Musiad Melbourne; Damien Caputo from Real Estate City in Craigieburn; Brendon Vella from Precision Hydro Excavations; Anil and Jitin Mongia from Evaryde ice cream in Mickleham; Hasan Altunbas, a local accountant; and Massimo Raniolo, a local property agent. These local businesses are the lifeblood of our community, and it was really important to hear from them and to hear the challenges they are facing, such as increased land tax, which is putting a lot of pressure on those small, hardworking family businesses, particularly in our multicultural community. We know that about 74 per cent of new migrants start a small business, and it is great that they do. We were there to let them know that the Liberal Party is the party of small business. We are the party that wants to see their taxes lower, we are the party that wants to see their red tape cut and we are the party that wants to see payroll tax lower, but unfortunately this government cannot manage money. Jacinta Allan cannot manage money. They cannot manage their debt issue, so they are forcing it onto hardworking family businesses like those in the electorate of Greenvale.