Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. I don't have the numbers that the senator has asked for before me. There were some reports from COSBOA this morning in the media. We understand that many businesses are under the pump because of the result of higher interest rates and some of the challenges that we talk about in this chamber from time to time in relation to our economy.

That's why the government has looked to find measures to support small business, including the energy bill relief. I note, from the media reports, that one of the most pressing challenges for business was energy costs, which is why we targeted that measure by giving every small business $325, from memory, to assist with some of those increasing costs. We're also responding to representations from COSBOA around investing in cyber preparedness and cybersecurity, as that has been identified by small business as another area of pressure for them.

Cybersecurity, cyber resilience—Senator Ruston, thank you. I am talking to you about the ways the government is looking to support small business through some of the challenges that they have raised with us. They have raised energy, and we've responded to energy. They have raised cyber, and we're responding to cyber. On the instant asset write-off, the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses, that relief is helping. So we are focused on ensuring that we can support small business where we can. Insolvencies, unfortunately— (Time expired)