Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to talk about the importance of shopping local. As a former small business owner, I am a great supporter of shopping local to support local jobs, innovation and creativity and also reduce our carbon footprint. It is an ethos I try to live by every day. So in the last sitting period it was an honour to help launch the Shop Small campaign, a campaign that encourages the community to get behind local enterprises by shopping at locally owned businesses throughout the month of November.

During the month of November last year, we here in this House got together as the Parliamentary Friends of Aussie Fashion group and wore garments made by designers in our electorates. I had an absolute ball showing off the breadth of talent we have here in Canberra, and I am doing it again this week. This week I will be wearing items by Canberra designers Zilpah tart, the Prodigal Daughter, Karen Lee and more. Today it is prodigal tart—not prodigal tart; Prodigal Daughter. It is Zilpah tart and Prodigal Daughter—there are all these great names. For anyone wanting to check out some Canberra designers, I suggest you visit the Hustle&Scout Twilight Fashion Market, with the next market coming up on 5 December at Barton. It is a great time to go and get some fantastic locally handmade Christmas presents.

To the Canberra family-run small businesses, the start-ups and the independents that make our city so vibrant and unique, I say thank you. This month and every month, I will get behind you.