with Susan Templeman MP Federal Member for Macquarie

I grew up working in my dad’ s newsagency, and at the time I didn’ t appreciate what a vital role that particular small business played in peoples’ lives.

It was a place to buy a paper or a birthday card and have a chat. Lots of customers had a regular pattern, and I’ d see them first thing in the morning before I went to school, or they might have been an after school customer.

Either way, some of them would ask me about my day, and I know that my dad had many regular customers who’ d have a chinwag along with their small purchase. Now every business is different, but just like that little shop helped connect a community, I truly believe that Australia’ s small businesses are at the heart of our

economy and our communities.

That’ s why the Albanese Government is backing Australia’ s record high 2.66 million small businesses to run, grow and succeed.

Since we came to Government, Australians have established around a million new businesses, a clear sign of ambition, resilience, and belief in the future.

Employing 5.2 million people, Australia’ s small businesses contribute almost $ 600 billion to our nation’ s economy every year.

To support businesses, we’ re already extending the Instant Asset Write Off, delivering further tax cuts benefiting 1.5 million sole traders, and providing $ 5,000 apprentice incentives in priority sectors.

We’ re looking at the availability and pricing of insurance products for small businesses, with a new Small Business

Insurance Inquiry underway.

And we know cash flow matters. Getting paid on time can be the difference between surviving and thriving.

So, we’ ve changed the law to make big businesses pay their small business suppliers fairly and promptly, and the Payment Times Reporting Regulator is keeping an eye on that.

We’ ve also evened out the playing field more for independent mechanics. Like my dad’ s loyal newsagency customers, many of us have a local, trusted mechanic to service our cars. With the changes in car operating systems, many independent workshops had been priced out of access to the information they need from vehicle manufacturers. Thanks to our changes, your local mechanic gets a fairer deal, and is no longer locked out of the new car operating systems and service

requirements, so you can keep supporting your preferred mechanic.

This“ right to repair” type of reforms are also on the way for agricultural machinery, improving farmers’ access to repair services and avoiding costly downtime during critical periods.

We know that business doesn’ t always run smoothly, and we’ ve provided extra funding for the free Small Business Debt Helpline and to Beyond Blue’ s specialised free and confidential mental health program for small business owners, including sole traders, called NewAccess for Small Business Owners.

No one running a small business should feel like they have to carry it alone.

Small businesses create jobs, support families, and help shape our regions and towns. I’ m proud to support them in return.

The NSW Liberals and Nationals have renewed calls for the Minns Labor Government to increase support for community preschools, following a recommendation from the Fair Work Commission to lift pay and conditions for early childhood teachers and educators.

Community preschools have been urging the Government for months to provide additional funding to address wage disparities. Despite undertaking similar qualifications and training, early childhood educators are paid significantly less than their counterparts in public schools.

Shadow Minister for Early Education,

Felicity Wilson, said the Government must accept the Fair Work Commission’ s recommendation and boost funding to allow community preschools to raise wages in line with public sector colleagues.

“ The Minns Labor Government talks about the importance of early learning but has been missing in action during a workforce crisis affecting more than 700 community preschools across NSW,” Ms Wilson said.

“ Entry-level primary school teachers are currently earning more than many community preschool directors. This widening gap is making it increasingly

difficult for preschools to attract and retain qualified staff.”

Ms Wilson said the pay disparity undermines the sector’ s sustainability and forces educators to seek betterpaid roles elsewhere. She criticised the Government for allowing the matter to escalate to legal proceedings before action was considered.

“ The independent umpire has spoken. The Government must now take this recommendation seriously and properly value our early childhood educators,” she said.

Robyn Preston, Member for Hawkesbury, highlighted the impact on

regional communities.“ In peri-urban and rural areas like Hawkesbury, lower population density and limited commercial viability already make service delivery challenging,” Ms Preston said.“ Without proper funding, we risk losing the preschools local families rely on.”

She called on the Government to increase Start Strong funding and expand preschools on public school grounds.“ If Labor is serious about supporting families, it must back fair pay for educators and secure the longterm sustainability of our community preschools,” Ms Preston said.