Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Davey for the question. Senator Davey, like all of us in the Morrison government, understands it is critical to put in place policies to support small and family businesses in Australia. Why? Because, when it comes to rural and regional Australia, they well and truly are the backbone of those communities. They give back to those communities. They support local jobs. They support local charities. And of course they support the local sporting organisations. This support has only been made even more important because of the impacts of COVID-19, the impacts of the bushfires and the impacts of the drought on our economy.

The government has a strong record of supporting small and family businesses across Australia, including fast-tracking tax relief for small and medium businesses, because we understand that the money that we gave back to them—which was their own money—they were able to invest back into their business to grow that business and create more jobs. We've also, as you know, improved access to finance for those businesses so that they can access the money that they need, again, to grow their business and to create more jobs. We're also ensuring that small businesses are paid on time through our own government policies—leading by example, of course—but also in the implementation of the payment times reporting framework.

On this side of the chamber, the government's side of the chamber, we're absolutely committed to cutting red tape and supporting small businesses with advice in disputes with the ATO and big business. In the wake of COVID-19, we have put in place targeted measures to support small businesses. The government's funding boost today of the Export Market Development Grants scheme acknowledges the importance of ensuring that small businesses have the opportunity to develop their ability to get into export markets.