Henry Pike (Bowman, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Hansard source

It's always been the great promise of Australia that anyone could build a better life through hard work and sacrifice. That was never something to apologise for; it was something to aspire to. But increasingly this government seems to view aspiration itself as something it needs to curb. Throughout this month's budget, the changes that will hit Redlanders who have worked hard, built businesses and invested their money responsibly. I've heard directly from local small-business owners who are feeling let down and cheated by these changes. Vijay, a local business owner in Victoria Point, told me that the proposed changes to capital gains tax and trust arrangements are creating real uncertainty, which is reducing his ability to reinvest, delaying expansion and making him more cautious about hiring. He made it clear that, for small businesses, profits are not just income; they are what funds growth, job creation and long-term stability.

Another small-business owner in my electorate, Mark, who has been building his business for over a decade, says he's always focused on working hard, employing locals and contributing, but now feels small businesses like his are being treated as a convenient revenue stream by the government. Mark says, and I quote, 'From my side, the impact of these types of changes isn't just theoretical; it directly affects decisions around hiring, expansion and how much we're willing to reinvest back into the business.' His message is simple: when the risk and effort no longer match the reward, the incentive to grow disappears and hesitation becomes the enemy of investment.

An individual who owns a manufacturing business in my electorate has contacted me in relation to the CGT changes as well. He says his accountant has advised him that he needs to have his business revalued at 30 June next year, at an estimated cost of approximately $20,000. It's the immediate impact of these changes. This is wasted money that he says could be better used in his business for development or wage increases for his great staff. He says he was considering investing in his business operations to install new equipment and employ additional staff, but has now cancelled those plans. This individual says: 'To put it bluntly, this budget has us seriously considering selling or even closing the business before June next year, as there is no longer any reward for ingenuity, hard work or effort. The result of this will be 12 locals being made redundant and the loss of another local business due to the decisions made by this government, which refuses to control its spending agenda.'

These are ordinary Australians. These are people who've worked hard, saved, built businesses, paid taxes and tried to do the responsible thing. They're not asking for special treatment; they are asking for a policy environment that supports their efforts rather than undermines them. Australia succeeds when that hard work is rewarded, not resented. The coalition believes there is a better path—a fairer, freer and stronger Australia, where hard work is rewarded, small businesses are backed and the next generation has a genuine chance to get ahead.

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