CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Mr VIOLI (Casey—Opposition Chief Whip) (10:24): Small business is the heart of my community and every community across the country. Under Labor we've seen a massive expansion in regulation that is drowning small business. They've added more than 5,000 new regulations in their first term, including 153 in employment and workplace relations.
These regulations cost our economy and small business billions in compliance expenses. I've spoken to many small businesses in my community, and they just want the government to get off their back and let them do what they do best: employ locals, make quality products and support their communities. Labor's approach to industrial relations assumes that every corner store, side hustle and startup has a human resources, legal and finance department to interpret their lengthy and complex industrial relations laws.
The reality is they don't. We've seen over 100 companies in Casey enter insolvency or administration in the last year, under this government. That includes 51 in the construction industry and 17 in the accommodation and food industry.
At no point has Labor seemed interested in bringing small business into the conversation, yet they are the ones that are suffering the most. I've recently had the opportunity to visit two manufacturing businesses—ARB 4x4 Accessories, which is in Kilsyth, and Hypersurface Chemical, which is in Lilydale. ARB is an Australian manufacturer in my community that manufactures four-wheel-drive parts and accessories, employs locals and contributes to our local economy.
They are the biggest manufacturer of four-wheel-drive accessories in the country and are a large employer in my community. Manufacturing is a critical industry for my community of Casey. It was fantastic to see these accessories being built by a team of locals.
That's why I'll always champion Australian innovation and support for small business. Cliff and the team at Hypersurface Chemical have been working on exciting new paint products that have revolutionised the industry by being high performing and eco-conscious. Both of these visits were a reminder of the strong manufacturing industry that we have in Casey, with many businesses doing amazing things from our local industrial estates.
That's why I'll always be a voice in this place for small business. As a nation we must get the settings right to enable small businesses to grow and scale and invest in the cutting-edge technologies that enable them to innovate. When the individual is strong, the family is strong, the community is strong and the nation is strong, and small business is at the heart of the individual and the family.