Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Hansard source

The Liberal-National government unashamedly supports small businesses because we know they are critical to the economic growth of regional Australia. Backing regional small businesses to grow means that more Australians are employed and that other small businesses are supported in the local area.

Labor doesn't support small businesses. Neither Bill Shorten nor Daniel Andrews wants to see them grow and prosper. They still see small businesses—family owned and run businesses—as a continued threat to union membership. They especially fail to understand the importance of those businesses to regional communities. Union membership in the private sector has fallen, demonstrating that both unions and the Labor Party don't understand the modern reality of running a small, family owned operation. On this side of the chamber, we believe in providing the right conditions for small businesses to grow, be successful and employ more Australians. When you work hard to earn money, you should be able to keep more of that money. Those opposite believe in taking it away. We'll back business all the way.