Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I am tempted to say that the member for Brisbane was an outstanding small business person, but her small business became a pretty big business over the years because of her great abilities at running it. I do thank the member for Brisbane for her question. I also thank her for arranging my visit on Sunday to Dolci Sapori, which makes the best Italian sweets in Queensland. The very best Italian sweets in Queensland are from Dolci—with an 'i' not an 'e'—Dolci Sapori. It is an absolutely outstanding place, and thank you for taking me there.

This budget is the latest step in the government's plan to build a strong, safe and prosperous future for all Australians. Every member of this parliament should be pleased that, since September 2013, more than a quarter of a million jobs have been created because this government is open for business and, under this government, Australia is open for business. We are particularly open for small business because small business is 96 per cent of all business. Small business creates about 50 per cent of all employment in this country. Small business is the engine room of the economy. As we know that small businesspeople mortgage their homes to invest, to employ and to serve their communities. When small business does well, everyone in our country does well.

The public have certainly noticed, the Australian people have certainly noticed, that this is the best budget ever for small business. They have noticed the instant asset write-off. They certainly noticed it at Dolci Sapori. This government does not just make it easier for small business to create jobs; it helps unemployed people to take the jobs that are there. It changes the economics of employing people. Some of the budget initiatives include a $1.2 billion national wage subsidy pool to target long-term unemployment. As well, there is a private sector Work for the Dole program. If someone has been unemployed for six months, they can do four weeks of work experience with a private sector employer while staying on benefits. This budget is not just good for jobs; it is good for job seekers as well. It is a budget for small business, it is a budget for confidence and it is a budget for jobs. The best form of welfare is work. We understand that. I hope members opposite appreciate it.

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