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

As Senator Payne has just said to me: go to the regions; they are open for business. And that is exactly the feedback we are getting from small businesses in those affected regions. We heard from Pierre from Kangaroo Island. He said, 'Yes, there have been bushfires on Kangaroo Island,' but, as Senator Ruston and Senator Birmingham know, they are open for business. I recently visited Bilpin. They make the most fantastic apple pies and apple ciders. They were also impacted by the bushfires. And guess what? They are open for business.

I have to say, I received an email from Senator Bragg today, as so many of us would. Tomorrow, the Empty Esky campaign is coming here to Parliament House, so we can all go and have that opportunity to meet some of the small businesses that have been impacted by the fires. You can also go online. If a small businesses is not necessarily up and running yet, guess what? They may have a website and you still might be able to go online and actually do some business with them.