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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-10-27 Daily Xml
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Barossa Country Cabinet

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (15:08): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer inform the house of his recent visit to the Barossa, Light and Lower North with the country cabinet?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:08): I thank the member for his question and I know that he is a very strong advocate for our regions. The government is unashamedly a strong supporter of our regions and unashamedly pro small business. Throughout the most recent country cabinet in the beautiful Barossa, I had the opportunity to speak to a number of inspiring and hardworking small business owners.

I had the pleasure to meet two young entrepreneurs who own the beautiful D&M's Bakery Cafe in Angaston where not only did I sample what I consider to be the most amazing pie I have ever had in my life, the Hutton Vale lamb and rosemary pie, but I also got to hear about the B2B program, a free business support program that connects skilled service providers with local small and medium size enterprises.

I also took the time to visit with Kodo Technologies. Kodo Technologies is a 24/7 computer support and technologies services business led by Josh Helbig—a young, dynamic and committed team. Josh was recently recognised as an emerging leader in the Barossa region in the most recent Brand South Australia regional awards.

Country cabinet gives us the opportunity to meet with many small businesses in our regions that are doing some amazing things. This government is strongly committed to creating a business environment where both start-ups and established businesses have the opportunity and capability to grow and create jobs for South Australians. Our economic priority No. 10 seeks to make sure that South Australia's small businesses have access to capital and global markets and recognises the critical importance of small business to our state's economic growth.

Throughout our time in country cabinet, from the well-attended community events to the pub at Mallala, I was able to talk directly to our regional communities about the importance of our recent tax reforms. It was clear from all I spoke to that these changes aimed at removing the barriers to transactions and growth will encourage new investment and new jobs.

Many spoke to me about how these changes would help them invest in new plant and equipment, allowing them to diversify and capture new and emerging markets; how the return-to-work scheme is helping them lower their costs; how our commitment to reducing red tape for businesses is making it easier for them to sell their produce; and how the Industry Participation Advocate and the Office of the Industry Advocate have engaged across the regions to ensure local businesses leverage the maximum opportunities they can for the almost $4 billion worth of contracts let annually by the South Australian government.

Of the 72 business capability building workshops, led by the Department of State Development in 2015-16, at least 45 will be delivered in regional South Australia. The Unlocking Capital for Jobs Program, a $50 million program, will allow $250 million to be leveraged in bank funding to accelerate job creation and business growth and also captured the imagination of the Barossa business community. This is a community not only committed to serving the local market but a global one, a community with a long-term vision for building on the well-established brand of the Barossa and a community committed to taking our premium food and wines to the world.

There are many more programs and policies that this government has in place to support small businesses and ensure it is the best place to do business. It is important that we support our tax reform processes, and I hope that members opposite support it. I hope members also support our economic infrastructure and cease calling it a false economy. I call on the opposition to support our tax package and, rather than deriding us cutting taxes and taking us to the lowest taxing state in the federation, they should celebrate it.

The SPEAKER: For once, I agree with the member for Kavel that it is debate. Supplementary, member for MacKillop.

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