David Batt (Hinkler, Liberal National Party) | Hansard source

I want to thank the Leader of the Nationals, Senator Matt Canavan, for visiting the Hinkler electorate last week. Together we hosted small-business and agricultural roundtables amid rising concerns over Labor's budget, which is full of chaos, confusion and broken promises. We visited Cheshire Machinery, in Bundaberg, a family owned and renowned specialist in farming equipment. Owner Ross Cheshire expressed deep concerns around the rising electricity price pressure that is crippling the business and agricultural industries. Ross is backing the coalition plan to scrap net zero, which will reduce electricity prices. He says, as it stands, if farmers can't afford to irrigate or grow a decent crop, they're not going to buy a new tractor.

It was also important to hear from a range of other small-business owners at the roundtable, and I thank the sports store operators, hairdressers, cafe owners, local engineering firms and all who attended. Unfortunately, what we heard loud and clear is that these people are working hard, taking risks and investing in their future but that all that is growing for them is a lack of confidence.

Labor's policy settings and new taxes are making it harder to invest, employ people, build business and create wealth. Prosperity is not created by taxing success. It's created by encouraging productivity, investment and enterprise. The government should axe these taxes and go back to the drawing board. They should put in the hard work and go through the budget line by line to find efficiencies, like every family and small business is doing in these uncertain times.

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