Thursday, 16 October 2025

 John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (17:48): (2020) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Small Business and Employment in the other place, Minister Suleyman. President, as you know, supporting small business in Victoria is a priority for our Allan Labor government, and this was made clear in our 2025–26 state budget with a $4.9 million investment to provide the mechanisms and support they need to thrive. Small businesses contribute over $417 billion to the state’s economy and keep over 1.3 million Victorians in employment. That is over 20 per cent of the state’s population, or a fifth of Victorians, and this is a significant figure.

The Boroondara Farmers Market, supported by the Rotary Club of Glenferrie, is a fortnightly event that showcases and promotes many such small businesses, both local and from across the state, in my great local community of Hawthorn, a community that I know dearly misses their former hardworking member of Parliament John Kennedy. Running every first, third and fifth Saturday of each month, the Boroondara Farmers Market was voted the best farmers market in the state and is accredited by the Victorian Farmers’ Markets Association. Victorians can purchase a range of goods from Victorian primary producers, from fresh fruit and vegetables to organic produce, bread, poultry goods, meat, cakes, beverages and more. Events like the Boroondara Farmers Market provide important exposure and promotion for small businesses both in my constituency of Southern Metro and statewide, and I am passionate about supporting and advocating and buying local. That is why my adjournment for the minister for small business is this: will the minister join me in my community in Southern Metro and visit the Boroondara Farmers Market and see what incredible work small businesses in Victoria and their supporters in the Rotary Club of Glenferrie are doing in this fortnightly location in Hawthorn?