I was pleased to welcome Shadow Minister for Small Business and Skills and Training, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, to Wannon last week for a small business roadshow through Hamilton, Warrnambool, Colac and Ararat.
Senator Price met with small business owners and farmers to hear firsthand about the pressures they are facing, and the message was remarkably consistent across the region.
Businesses feel punished by considerably higher operational costs, increased taxation and the ever-growing maze of red tape and compliance.
We heard from businesses that are having to dedicate valuable staff time to paperwork rather than putting those people on the tools and growing their business.
Just as concerning is the impact this is having on aspiration. People who have invested their time, money and hard work into building a business should be able to use their profits to invest back into that business, create jobs and grow.
Senator Price heard those concerns directly and is committed to developing policies that reduce the burden on small business, reward aspiration and give whoever wants to have a go the confidence to do so with the aim of creating a secure future for themselves and their families.
Last week, I also welcomed Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Learning Senator Matt O’Sullivan to Wannon. We visited Warrnambool, Colac, Apollo Bay and Anglesea and also held a well-attended online forum to hear directly from parents and childcare providers.
A key issue raised was the shortage of early childhood educators. With childcare services expanding across Wannon, we need to make sure there are enough trained workers to staff them. That means making childcare an attractive career, improving access to training and ensuring regional services can continue to access skilled workers where local staff cannot be found.
We also discussed the importance of giving families greater choice and flexibility in how they access childcare. What works in metropolitan areas does not necessarily work in regional communities, where smaller populations and different workforce challenges can make it much harder to provide services.
Senator O’Sullivan’s Senate Inquiry into childcare delivery in regional and remote Australia will look at these issues, hearing from childcare operators, families and communities about the gaps that exist and the solutions that can fill them.
Importantly, Senator O’Sullivan has already put forward a request for the Senate Inquiry to hold a hearing in our region, giving local families and providers the opportunity to have their say.
This weekend, I’ll be cheering on two Hamilton Gymnastics teams as they compete at the regional championships in Warrnambool. It’s a fantastic opportunity for these young athletes to test themselves against some of the best gymnasts in the region, and I wish them all the very best of luck.
The championships are a timely reminder of the important contribution our sporting clubs and volunteers make to communities right across Wannon. Nominations are now open for my 2026 Wannon Sport and Volunteer Awards, which provide an opportunity to recognise the people who help make our sporting clubs and communities stronger, whether through their achievements on the field, their leadership and encouragement of others, or the time they give to support their club and community.
I encourage everyone to think about someone who deserves recognition and take a few minutes to nominate them by going to the home page of my website.
ENDS
Contact: Sandie Gustus M | 0408 564 232 E | sandie.gustus@aph.gov.au
Published 4 September 2026, Hamilton Spectator