Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Hansard source

Today's announcement will benefit regional and rural Australians and Victoria by increasing access to finance to help those small businesses grow. With small businesses in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors contributing around $22 billion to our GDP, we want to continue to grow these industries so they can employ more regional Australians.

Small businesses provide the majority of employment in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors—around 82 per cent of the jobs, or more than 421,000 Australians. That's exactly why the creation of the fund will benefit small businesses like Bertolis agriculture in Shepparton. The owner, Paul Bertoli, employs around 40 locals and supplies machinery to farmers and businesses right across the north-east of Victoria. He said that he's constantly hearing how federal government support for small business is having a positive result for owners and their customers alike throughout the regions. Small businesses right across Australia understand it's only a Liberal-National government that will back them to grow and prosper.