Mr ALISTER HENSKENS (Wahroonga) (17:03): I celebrate our small businesses and raise an important issue for the small business community across New South Wales, including within the Wahroonga electorate. Last month was Small Business Month, which is all about celebrating and promoting our local small businesses and encouraging people to support their community by shopping at them. It is also an opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution that small business owners make to our economy and to the fabric of our local communities. Across every main street, industrial area and regional town, small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employing almost half of the State's private sector workforce and driving innovation, resilience and opportunity. The electorate of Wahroonga is no different, with small businesses spread across our community, from family-run cafes and boutique retailers to tradespeople, professionals and startups that continue to grow despite economic challenges. Those businesses provide local jobs, training opportunities and vital connections that strengthen our community.

Last month I attended the Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce's Local Business Connect Expo. Local businesses from different industries were on display to share with our community the services they provide, and people were encouraged to shop local to support our small businesses. It was inspiring to see firsthand the passion and determination of our local business owners, many of whom have built their livelihoods from the ground up. The Coalition has a strong track record of supporting small businesses, particularly during COVID, when the uncertainty of lockdowns provided an unstable environment for businesses to operate in. I note that the former Government gave financial support to small businesses even when the Commonwealth Government did not. We supported small businesses by giving them grants and supports so they could continue operating and make it through the pandemic. Unfortunately, NSW Labor is not the party of small business.

The Minns Government has recently axed a Coalition initiative called Business Connect, a free advice service that has been used by thousands of small business owners across New South Wales. Under the Minns Government, there have been record business insolvencies in the State. The latest Business NSW survey shows that 97 per cent of businesses are struggling to lift productivity. Rising costs were identified by 65 per cent of respondents. Some 42 per cent pointed to a lack of skilled labour and 41 per cent said regulatory demands were holding them back.

Despite those stark figures, the Minns Labor Government cut one of the most important and helpful small business support tools. Business Connect helped more than 60,000 small businesses since it was introduced by the former Coalition Government in 2017. It also helped create more than 40,000 jobs in New South Wales. Small business owners do not want handouts; they want practical support and a government that understands their challenges, whether it is the burden of payroll tax, soaring energy costs or complex compliance requirements. Those businesses deserve policies that make it easier to employ, invest and grow.

I was fortunate to meet recently with Amy Tyler, the founder and CEO of the Institute of Oncology Massage in Waitara. Amy is an oncology, scar and lymphoedema massage therapist with over 20 years of experience. Her skills are critical for cancer survivors who experience pain due to the removal of their lymph nodes or have scarring from their surgery. It is heavily specialised massage work. To diversify, about 10 years ago Amy chose to start training other massage practitioners in the unique specialty. To do that, she started the Institute of Oncology Massage.

She particularly teaches online, so she wanted cybersecurity advice. At a very low price, she was able to get a cybersecurity expert who worked with large corporations, which ordinarily a small business owner would not be able to afford. She told me that the Business Connect program was outstanding in helping her grow and establish her business. The decision to end Business Connect sends a clear message that the Government does not value or prioritise the small business sector. I urge the Government to reconsider that short-sighted cut and stand with the hardworking men and women who keep our local economies alive.