Deputy Speaker,

Small business is the engine room of our economy.

It’s a driver of growth, tourism, and a source of jobs for millions of people right across the nation.

Small business offers opportunity to people to thrive, succeed, and live a fulfilling life.

The Albanese Labor Government recognises this and is backing in small businesses right across the nation with Commonwealth subsidies to provide energy bill relief, and an extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off.

And Deputy Speaker, these policies build on our grants programs that are delivering targeted supports to small businesses right across the nation.

In my electorate of Corangamite in Victoria, two amazing local businesses have received Energy Efficiency Grants to bring down operating costs.

Adelia Fine Foods in Ocean Grove received funding of more than $24,000 to upgrade their food processing machinery.

One of the business owners, Amelia, said the business is investing in a new, energy-efficient automation process for the temporary and finishing of chocolate for its rocky road range of gluten-free treats – and they are good!

It’s an upgrade that will reduce power consumption by 50 per cent.

Amelia said, and I quote: 'With the support of this grant, we're excited to take this important step towards greater energy efficiency in operations.'

Deputy Speaker, this is just one example of our work to support local small business.

In Torquay, Bells Beach Brewing received an Energy Efficiency Grant of more than $23,000 to replace inefficient hot water systems with modern heat pump technology, swap energy draining lights for new LEDs, and upgrade commercial refrigeration.

This will help bring down costs for one of my region’s favourite breweries – it’s a winner, and I’m proud to be part of a government that is backing in small business.

We’re also backing in small business by building a more skilled workforce through Free TAFE.

Free TAFE is changing lives.

New data from the States and Territories showed Free TAFE is being embraced, and that course completions are delivering new employment prospects for countless Australians.

More than 170,000 Australians have now completed a Free TAFE course, whilst more than 650,000 have taken up the offer of Free TAFE since it commenced in early 2023.

Many of these students are still studying at TAFE right now, and many of these students will soon enter the workforce.

For small business, this will be a gamechanger.

It will mean more opportunities for small business to expand their horizons, and to take on the workers of the future.

This is a win-win-win, Deputy Speaker – a win for workers, a win for small business, and a win for Australia.

I’m also proud that we have so many small businesses being created.

Our Treasurer said recently that 25,000 firms were being created despite the headwinds that have been facing our economy.

We know there is great uncertainty in the global economy – and our government is responding to this by engaging with our regional trading partners, and creating certainty for business to invest in their assets, technology, energy and workers.

But we know there’s more work to do, and I’m confident our August Productivity Roundtable will go some way toward addressing the challenges we are facing together as a nation.

In closing, the Albanese Government is working together with sectors across the nation to ensure small business can thrive.

I know many small business representatives will soon join with our Treasurer at the upcoming Productivity Roundtable.

And I know our new Minister for Small Business is absolutely focused on continuing the important work of delivering for the amazing small businesses we have across our nation, and across our regions.

What’s good for small business, is good for Australians.