Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

We've updated the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, which mean that small businesses will get a bigger slice of the $70 billion in contracts that the Australian government spends every year, with a 20 per cent target for small business procurement. We've introduced legislation to make unfair contract terms illegal so that small businesses can negotiate fairer agreements with large partners. And, of course, these measures sit alongside the Albanese government's wider agenda that will benefit small businesses, including our increase to the skilled migration program to address skill shortages and our cheaper child care that will mean more parents will be able to do more hours and work in small businesses. We'll provide a one-off income credit to older Australians to give them the option to work and keep more of their money, immediately helping to boost the labour market supply, and we're accelerating the delivery of 465,000 additional fee-free TAFE places, with 180,000 to be delivered in 2023. We know that small businesses are vital to Australia, and we'll continue to support them. (Time expired)

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