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

I can give an example from Senator Rennick's home state of Queensland, a gentleman by the name of Paul, an electrical small business owner and operator in Toowoomba. As a result of COVID-19, Paul, like so many others, was looking to downsize his business, but when the government announced the JobKeeper policy, that gave Paul the incentive and the optimism to invest in his business. The wage subsidy gave him the cash flow that he needed to take on two new apprentices. He utilised the expanded, and now extended, instant asset write-off and he was able to invest in a new ute to support his work. When COVID-19 hit, Paul was looking to downsize, but with the support of government policy he not only was able to invest in his business and buy that new ute but also was able to utilise the wage subsidy and he has now brought on two new apprentices. That's what the government is all about, backing small and family businesses.