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

I thank Senator McGrath for the question. As the Minister for Finance has stated, COVID-19—a global pandemic—has had a devastating impact on not only the global economy but of course the Australian economy. When a government has to shut down parts of the economy, it is going to have a detrimental effect. We know that it has had a devastating effect on many small and family businesses around Australia, but that is why the government took decisive action and continues to take decisive action to respond to both the health aspects of the pandemic and of course the economic aspects. Small and family businesses are the engine room of the Australian economy. In particular, they support rural and regional economies around Australia. That is why we are investing a record stimulus of in excess of $300 billion in the economy to ensure that we can support them.

Senator Watt interjecting—