Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I applaud the Minister for Small Business for making a real difference to the businesses of Capricornia. I thank him for personally visiting Capricornia last week as part of the small business roadshow. The Minister for Small Business has shown an unprecedented commitment to genuinely help small business in my electorate of Capricornia, personally attending the small business roadshow. What a turnout! The evening hosted by the T@ble Capricorn Coast Business Community is designed to offer a unique opportunity for small businesses to interact directly with the government and learn about the government's plan for small business. The audience was highly impressed even with the ATO representative. The session also allowed for the minister and agencies to hear direct from Yeppoon businesses the current issues affecting small businesses operation.

The coalition government is genuine about addressing the challenges facing small business, the backbone of our community. It is also a sector that feels the brunt of downturns in other sectors like mining and tourism. We heard from a very diverse group of 50 people that it is fixing the basics that matters most. Those in attendance could see that the minister is genuinely focused on resolving these challenges. Already, we have seen tax cuts and extension to the instant asset write-off for small businesses and incentives to work with state and territory governments to cut red tape. The government's support for small business is all about addressing the real issues facing small business, which include cutting red tape, reducing tax, simplifying the business activity statement and levelling the playing field for small business.

The lowest small business rates since the Second World War means local businesses can reinvest to grow and create more jobs. The ATO are developing a contemporary service-orientated organisation by transforming services and the way they deal with business. The office of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman—ASBFEO—was launched on 11 March 2016. The role of ASBFEO is to advocate for small businesses and family enterprises and ensure that the government policies take into account the needs of small businesses and family enterprises. These are all geared towards making life easier for working mums and dads, supporting the local business community and creating better opportunities. The immediate business tax deduction of $20,000 for purchasing assets makes a big difference. Extending the instant asset write-off program is a highlight of the budget for small business. The measure has proved to be one of the most popular government small business incentives and encourages Australia's 3.2 million small businesses to invest in their business.

During the minister's visit, we also stopped at Almost Anything Web and Graphic Design, a web and design business in north Rockhampton, who also happens to be one of two Google partners north of Brisbane. Almost Anything Web and Graphic Design have a high turnover but the profits are marginal. They can now benefit from the increase in turnover to $10 million. They have invested in branded vehicles that are used for deliveries, meetings and promotion. They are committed to growing their business and are now looking forward to doing so without punishing red tape and restrictions.

Minister, do you expect small-business confidence to increase following decisions in the budget to extend the instant asset write-off, an incentive for the states and territories to cut more red tape, lowering taxes and increasing the small-business threshold?

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