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

I rise today to recognise Small Business Month, and to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution that small and family businesses make right across Capricornia. In regional Australia, small businesses are the backbone of our communities. They keep towns strong, connected and resilient.

I've had the privilege of meeting many hardworking small-business owners across Capricornia, and I regularly share their stories with the community. In Rockhampton, I've visited cafes, florists, retailers doing everything they can to keep their doors open despite rising costs. Many tell me they are working longer hours for small margins, but they remain committed to their customers. In Yeppoon, I've met tourism operators, restaurants and retailers along the foreshore facing year-round pressure while still employing locals and welcoming visitors to our region.

Across Capricornia, tradies, mechanics and service providers have told me strong demand is being tempered by workforce shortages and rising material costs. In Sarina I have spent time with longstanding family businesses that have served their communities for decades and remain trusted pillars of their towns. I've also met agriculture service businesses that support our farmers every day and help underpin one of our region's most important industries.

What all these businesses have in common is resilience, but they are under growing pressure from every direction. When you spend a dollar locally, it flows through the whole community, supporting wages, apprentices, suppliers, sporting clubs and community events. That is why shopping local matters, especially now. Choosing your local butcher, baker, cafe, mechanic or tradie over a multinational or online giant can make a real difference to whether that business keeps employing local people and investing in our towns.

I have also seen how much these businesses give back through junior sport, fundraisers, local shows and community events. That contribution is vital to the social fabric of Capricornia. Small businesses shape the identity of Capricornia through hard work, local knowledge and genuine relationships. But right now, many of them are being squeezed by a perfect storm of rising costs, weak consumer confidence and workforce pressures. Power bills are up, insurance premiums are climbing, rents are rising and the cost of stock, freight and raw materials continues to bite. For operators in hospitality, retail, agriculture and the trades every increase eats into an already thin margin. Many are trying not to pass these costs on, because their customers are doing it tough as well.

In regional areas like Capricornia, those pressures are even greater. Distance means higher transport costs. Freight delays can leave shelves short or jobs unfinished. And housing shortages make it harder to attract and retain workers. When severe weather hits, the recovery burden can be immediate and overwhelming. And then there is the workforce challenge. Business owners tell me they cannot always find the staff they need, whether that is apprentices, hospitality workers, qualified tradespeople or experienced admin staff, many are filling the gaps themselves. They're working earlier, staying later and carrying extra stress just to keep the doors open. Many owners are also dealing with complex regulation, higher borrowing costs and soft consumer confidence. When families cut back, small businesses feel it immediately. That makes it harder to plan, invest, expand or take on another employee. That is why Small Business Month is so important. It is a time to recognise the contribution, but it should also be a reminder that they need practical support from government and continued backing from the community.

Government must do its part by reducing red tape, easing compliance burdens, improving access to skilled workers and ensuring small businesses are not punished by rising taxes and costs they cannot absorb. But every one of us has a role to play as well. Every time we choose to shop local, recommend a local business or use a local tradie, we help protect jobs and keep our communities strong. If we want our towns to thrive, we must stand with the people who take the risk, employ local workers and invest in our communities every single day. During Queensland Small Business Month, I encourage everyone across Capricornia and Australia to back local businesses, because they have always backed us. When small business succeeds, Capricornia succeeds.

See this speech in context