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

Without a doubt, rural and regional Australia have done it tough this year. But we are supporting them with policies that will get people into work, that will support businesses to prosper and grow and that will support businesses to bring on that new apprentice or trainee. In fact, over 20,000 regional and rural small businesses are benefiting from our supporting apprentices and trainees wage subsidy. Senator McKenzie, $227 million in funding is now keeping around 34,000 apprentices and trainees in work on the job in our regions. We've also obviously got our JobKeeper policy and the cash flow boost. We're also providing $4.7 million for regional small businesses to access free financial counselling, because, obviously, that is just so important for them to navigate through COVID-19. We also have announced over $960 million of initiatives through the relief and recovery fund. (Time expired)