QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Dr ALY (Cowan—Minister for Small Business, Minister for International Development and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:28): Thank you so much to the member for Brisbane. She is a passionate supporter of small businesses in her electorate and, like many of us on this side, is out there listening to small businesses in her community, heeding their comments and coming back in here and advocating so passionately and so strongly for them.

The member knows, as we all do in the Albanese government, that small businesses are at the heart of our communities. With 2.6 million small businesses employing more than five million Australians and contributing almost $600 billion to our nation's economy every year, small business is big business. They are the corner cafes that bring us together, the tradies who build our homes and the startups that turn dreams and passions into livelihoods.

When they thrive, Australia thrives. That's what guides our National Small Business Strategy. It's the first of its kind, with a focus on helping small business grow, on tackling red tape and on creating an even playing field.

Over the past few weeks, I've had the pleasure of visiting business communities, from Burwood in Reid to North Beach in Moore, from Sunnybank in Moreton to Box Hill in Menzies. I've spoken with small-business owners, listened to their stories and heard firsthand some of the challenges that they face. In the last sitting period in this House, and on this side of the chamber, we reaffirmed our focus on delivering real outcomes for small businesses right across Australia by passing legislation that extends the $20,000 instant asset write-off, so that small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million can continue to immediately deduct eligible assets.

I know that this measure will make a real difference to small businesses in Australia, including the 1½ million small businesses that are sole traders, and who also have benefited from the Albanese Labor government's tax cuts. For small-business owners like Phillip—he runs Oatley Chinese & Malaysian Restaurant in the member for Banks's electorate—the instant asset write-off is going to help him manage his cash flow, invest in new kitchen equipment, expand his operations and continue serving his local community.

We understand that every piece of equipment bought, every tool replaced and every shopfront opened represents something bigger; it represents confidence and a chance to build a better future. Whether it's extending the instant asset write-off, providing targeted energy bill relief, improved payment times and digital supports or giving small business a fair go in government procurement, the Albanese Labor government backs in small business, just as small business backs in Australia.