Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If there's one thing I enjoy more than walking the streets of my electorate of Spence speaking to constituents and local business owners it is doing just that with the ministers of the Albanese Labor government. It's no secret that Spence has enjoyed quite a number of ministerial visits—something that I am extremely proud of. Last week was no different, when the Minister for Small Business, Homelessness and Housing answered the call and joined me in Gawler to meet with the vibrant business community. We were also joined by Damian McGee, who Gawler locals would know from the Exchange Hotel, but he's also the town of Gawler's Corporate Citizen of the Year. Thank you, Damian, for hosting us at the Exchange Hotel along with members of the Gawler Business Development Group to discuss all things small business.

I'm sure the minister would agree that the discussion was robust, informative but also rewarding. It is vitally important that the government remains an active listener to our small business community to hear what matters to them. In Spence and across Australia, our small business community plays a vital role within our economy, and ensuring that small businesses remain not just viable but able to prosper is an aim that is front of mind for our government. They will always find an active listener in our government and with me as their local member.