Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to shine a light on the government's decision to terminate the Entrepreneurship Facilitators program in their recent budget. This short-sighted decision will have a severe impact in my region, where the program, efficiently led by Tara Diversi, has been instrumental in promoting and growing local small businesses.

There's been no consultation or communication around this, and the Albanese government has torn up a recently signed three-year contract with an option of a further two years, leading to the loss of five jobs in Cairns along with a slew of unnecessary financial burdens placed on Tara, with businesses leases and future events now up in the air. The young entrepreneurs project under Tara's leadership has had an undeniable positive influence in our region by providing invaluable resources and guidance to those looking for a start in small business. Since its inception, Tara has facilitated some 8,716 comprehensive client mentoring sessions, conducted 526 small group workshops and served over 14,000 workshop attendees.

Tara is not alone. The government has terminated these programs across 22 other locations arounds Australia, with dedicated entrepreneurship facilitators like Tara now left in the lurch from this rash decision. I call on the government to reconsider this decision, allowing the Entrepreneurship Facilitators program to fulfil its full contractual term as originally intended.