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

Last week I welcomed the Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator Cash, to my electorate of Fisher as part of her national tour. The minister began the day with a small business meet and greet at the Best Western Plus Lake Kawana Hotel. The minister met more than 30 local small and family business leaders, like Heidi and Pavo Walker of Walker Seafoods—

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McEwen is warned.

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

Mike Jessop of Oceancraft, Uta Rabinger of the Bavarian Beach Bar & Cafe at Mooloolaba and Kendall Morton of Home Care Assistance Sunshine Coast, among many other players. The minister spoke with these local businesses in small roundtable discussions about the importance of access to skilled and motivated workers, the need to minimise red tape and the need to keep business taxes low—all issues on which our federal government is taking decisive action. The minister then visited our local family owned icon, Australia Zoo. She heard from the zoo director, Wes Mannion, and many of the staff and very important volunteers, then she rolled up her sleeves and did some hands-on vocational training with me in the caring for tortoises.

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McEwen will remove himself under 94(a).

The member for McEwen then left the chamber.

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

Thank you to the minister for taking up my invitation to visit Fisher and for engaging so enthusiastically with businesses in my electorate. Thank you also to the local businesses who attended. Their feedback was so very important.