Sharryn Jackson (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Not important enough, however, to warrant a question in the House of Representatives during question time. However, my question to the minister is: I am particularly interested in the Export Market Development Grants scheme. I know that it has assisted many small and medium businesses to make the transition from local producers into companies that export their products to the world. I am pleased to say that there are a number of small and medium-sized enterprises in my own electorate who have received funding over the last couple of years. They are incredibly diverse enterprises—from software publishing through to heavy machinery and equipment and everything in between, including pharmaceuticals and toiletry goods. I am particularly interested to find out what else the government is doing in the trade portfolio to support small business. In closing my question, I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar conducted by Austrade in Western Australia that particularly targeted women in small and medium businesses. I have to say, Minister, that it was extremely successful and I was very impressed with the running of the seminar and the information that was available to assist those women in business on industry and export assistance.

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