Small businesses in Mallee need an election to bring in a Coalition government that understands their struggles and is committed to act, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP said today.

Warracknabeal’s historic Creekside Hotel confirmed closed its doors on 1 January for the first time in 150 years, after taking the difficult decision to cease trading due to struggles to trade profitably.

Halls Gap businesses told Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton MP, visiting the fire-ravaged region at Dr Webster’s invitation, that they had lost a significant portion of their annual revenue due to fire-enforced Christmas-New Year closures.  Halls Gap traders are still waiting for the Allan Victorian Labor Government to request Category D exceptional circumstances assistance to get back up and running after the fires.

“A Dutton Coalition Government will Get Australia Back on Track by backing small business,” Dr Webster said.

“Under Labor more than 26,000 small businesses have gone to the wall, with insolvencies at record highs.  More than 4,000 hospitality businesses have gone under, and jobs fell by 165,000 in the last year alone.

“An incoming Dutton Coalition Government will increase the instant asset write-off to $30,000 and make it permanent, providing confidence to invest.  The Instant Asset Write Off initiative will save more than 98 per cent of businesses the hassle of dealing with depreciation schedules when they invest in their business.

“On Monday the Coalition announced we would cut red tape for small business through a tax deduction for business-related meal and entertainment expenses, helping bring people together and support local jobs.

“We will also make workplace rules fairer and give businesses the flexibility to grow and hire. The current system is too costly and stressful.”

Monday’s meal and entertainment small business measure will apply to businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million, alcohol excluded from the policy.  The expenses must have a connection with a business activity and income, including dining and entertainment provided to clients, vendors and employees.

The Albanese Labor Government is slugging 90,000 small businesses across the nation with more than $30,000 in new costs very single year.

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) and CommBank’s Small Business Perspectives Report revealed 55 per cent of small businesses have been significantly impacted by rising costs, with 63 per cent admitting they cannot afford the transition to renewable energy and over a third facing energy hardship in the last year, outpacing the financial distress experienced during the pandemic.  Energy costs have increased an average 32 per cent in Victoria since the Albanese Labor Government took office.

“Small businesses will always be better off under a Coalition Government,” Dr Webster said.

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