Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

As we know, small and family businesses are the backbone of the Australian economy and supporting them is in the DNA of the Liberal-National government. On this side of the chamber, the Morrison government, we know that a fundamental role of government is to ensure that our nation, the nation of Australia, has a strong economy. As the Leader of the Government has said: why do we need a strong economy? Well, without a strong economy, you cannot deliver record funding for education. You cannot deliver record funding for health. And you certainly would not be able to guarantee the essential services upon which Australians rely.

That is why we will always put in place policies that will ensure that Australia has a strong economy. Of course, those policies will back small and family business every step of the way. Under the coalition government, under the Liberal-National government, we have seen the creation of almost 1.2 million jobs since we were elected to office. How do you create jobs? You put in place the policies that ensure that businesses are able to prosper and grow and, of course, have a strong economy.

We've been able to deliver, because of the strong economy, tax cuts for 10 million Australians. You cannot give tax cuts if you don't have the economic fundamentals right. We've been able to give tax cuts to not only up to 10 million Australians but also the 3.3 million small and family businesses in Australia, because we know that, when Australians have more money in their back pockets and when small and family businesses have more money in their back pockets, they'll invest in themselves and they'll spend more money. In doing that, businesses are able to prosper and grow and create more jobs. The Liberal-National government understands small and family businesses. They are the backbone of the Australian economy, and our policies ensure they prosper and grow. (Time expired)