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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-05-24 Daily Xml
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Migrant Small Business Expo

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Is the minister aware of any recent evidence linking immigration and small business activity in South Australia?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:46): I thank the member for Light for his question. He is one of the many South Australians from a migrant background who makes a significant contribution to our community. I believe that the majority of South Australians are very proud of our thriving state and what the Labor government has achieved since assuming office in 2002.

In the Weatherill government, we are maximising on emerging economic opportunities: transforming our healthcare system, modernising our transport infrastructure, and building strong and safer communities. However, South Australia would not be what it is today without the contribution of migrants, whether on skilled, business or humanitarian visa programs.

I was pleased to speak at the Migrant Small Business Expo last week and engage with passionate and hardworking migrants embarking on new business ventures. I am very proud that my department was able to support this important expo, which encourages economic growth through entrepreneurship, and I thank Community Corporate, Multicultural Youth of South Australia and the City of Charles Sturt for also supporting this event.

Migrant entrepreneurship is one of South Australia's greatest assets, and our new and emerging communities have contributed to the diversity of our economy, increasing our connectivity with the Asia-Pacific region and the new markets of Africa. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' small business survey tells us that migrants create 29 per cent of small business in Australia. That is why there is so much concern when the federal Minister for Immigration talks about migrants taking jobs and destroying the economy.

The recent comments delivered by Peter Dutton are offensive and wrong. Our model of multiculturalism works very well, but it is delicate, and these negative and untrue comments from the federal government undermine our multicultural state. Our migrants do not take Australian jobs: they create them. Indeed, some of our migrants struggle. They get caught between the traumas of their past life and are tested by their new life, but there are a lot of success stories too.

Mr Pederick: What do your unions say?

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is called to order.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Being from countries—

Mr Tarzia: Glass houses. You shouldn't lecture after the last election.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: For many migrants and refugees, being from countries where they need to be innovative to survive because there is no welfare system, they are keen to pick an area of passion where they have a skill and start a business.

I can tell you that in my own electorate of Ramsay, many migrants have started their own businesses in our high street, John Street. There is an African beauty shop, about four different Afghani grocery stores, a Polish cafe, a South American coffee shop and three Indian shops. Probably one of our most successful migrants, Van Nguyen, who has five different shops, including the best continental deli in Salisbury, highly prized by our Polish community, recently opened a Japanese restaurant and upgraded the Spaceland cafe, a very well-known cafe in Salisbury. Our government welcomes the diversity that migrants make to our economy, and we will continue to support their activities.

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