National Family Business Day

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (16:47): I move:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges that 19 September 2024 is the National Family Business Day;

2. Notes the significant contribution made by family businesses to the South Australian economy and the South Australian community; and

3. Recognises National Family Business Day as a time to acknowledge the significant role family businesses play, accounting for up to 70 per cent of Australia’s businesses and employing around half of Australia's workforce.

It is a great pleasure to rise to recognise and give thanks for the significant role that family businesses play in the South Australian and national economies, accounting for up to 70 per cent of the Australian workforce and providing opportunities to so many to build successful lives around their great family businesses, often providing for the next generation to do the same.

One of the great things about being Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development is engaging with so many small and family businesses, each of them unique and all of them contributing to their industry and their local community. I recently had the pleasure of visiting a number of small businesses, as well as some not-for-profits, in Kapunda to hear their concerns and to provide information about the Small Business Energy Efficiency Grants Program, which seeks to assist small and family businesses through cutting electricity costs by helping to fund the upgrade or procurement of energy efficient equipment.

One of the small and family business owners I met with in Kapunda was Jarrod, who owns the Kapunda Tyre Service, a small family business on the south side of Kapunda that offers a selection of tyres and services for vehicles, trucks, heavy farm machinery and even sack trolleys. Jarrod is also, I found out, an avid recreational angler and enjoys going out to catch whiting since the snapper ban has had to be instituted.

I also met with Odet, who is a senior volunteer at the Kapunda Community Craft Shop, located on the same premises as the Kapunda Light Community Church, along with a bookstore, craft shop, op shop and small kitchen. This mixture of services is run by the pastors, assisted by some amazing volunteers who take it upon themselves to run community events for community members, young people and the elderly. Odet stated that they are always keen for help with leadership training and also for running events for young people in the community.

I spoke to Rayna, who is the owner of Plant Pot and More, which is a lovely plant shop on the main street of Kapunda selling a variety of plants and pot supplies and goodies for indoor and outdoor plants. Rayna stated that, yes, business has been a little tough for some of the local small businesses lately. They are experiencing a lower number of visitors to the town since the Kapunda bypass was built, but she was interested to hear of how the energy efficiency grants might assist small businesses.

I also had the pleasure of meeting with Kylie, who is the owner of 2B Nourished, a lovely vibrant little cafe in the heart of Kapunda that serves delicious and nourishing smoothies, cakes, snacks and other goodies perfect for a good breakfast or lunch. Com Viet is a Vietnamese restaurant on the main street of Kapunda owned by Maggie, who has recently opened the restaurant and said that business has been good since the opening, with a few nights being so busy that she actually ran out of food to sell for the next day.

For lunch I stopped at Litl Mo's Bakery and Cafe where I had, I must say, a delightful apple strudel and sausage roll. I would recommend to my colleague the Hon. Kyam Maher that he must make sure that he has tried the sausage rolls at Litl Mo's at Kapunda. I know that he tries most of them around the state, so he has probably been there.

I also met with Robyn, who is a volunteer at the Kapunda Community Gallery. The gallery showcases a beautiful collection of artworks from various local artists that could be purchased. Robyn informed me that the Kapunda Community Gallery is the longest running volunteer group in South Australia. I was not able to visit every small and family business in Kapunda, but I did make sure that information on the energy efficiency grants was provided to as many businesses as possible.

Small and family businesses need the recognition they can get through things such as the awards that we often mention in this place, as well as other opportunities, so it is great to be able to promote small and family businesses through this motion today. But, more than recognition, they need the support of fellow South Australians to get out and spend their money in small and family businesses that put so much back into their communities. Given Kapunda is only an hour from Adelaide, I would certainly encourage people to start there and then continue throughout the rest of the state in supporting our small and family businesses in our regional communities.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. L.A. Henderson.