Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Turnbull coalition government is committed to supporting Australian small businesses. Last week, the Minister for Small Business came to visit my electorate of Fisher to talk to local business leaders about what this government is doing to support them.

Together, we visited a fantastic Caloundra company, Australian Off Road. From humble beginnings in their home, Steve and Rhonda Budden's enterprise now employs over 70 local tradespeople and has an eight-month waiting list for their fantastic off-road caravans.

The minister also joined me, along with representatives of the Australian Tax Office and the small business ombudsman, to host a Sunshine Coast small business Q&A. Attendees included Dr Evan Jones of Golden Beach Medical Centre, who told us about some of the pressures operating on GPs and local pharmacies. Peter Duffy—my good friend Peter—from the Knowles Group had many interesting suggestions, with 'interesting' being the operative word, for streamlining the taxation system. And Tony Gill of Art on Cairncross asked about the importance of diversifying the Sunshine Coast's economy and encouraging new hubs for other types of businesses. Other attendees with valuable contributions to make included Frank Cassells of Cassells Chartered Accountants; Gerry and Liz Bell of the Bell Group; and Tracey Schultz from the Skills Shack.

I want to thank the minister for visiting Fisher and for giving us his insights, and all the local business owners who came along.