Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Euroa electorate businesses

Annabelle CLEELAND (Euroa) (13:22): I want to thank the local businesses that continue to invest in my electorate of Euroa. Their commitment drives our economy, creates jobs and keeps our towns thriving. Last week I sat down with some of these businesses to hear what it is like to operate in Victoria at the moment and understand the challenges they are facing.

I attended the opening of Western AG in Seymour, an incredible business providing agronomic advice across regional Victoria who chose Seymour and Benalla as key locations for growth. In Benalla I caught up with Ian at ForestOne, Greg and Joyleen at Ryan & McNulty and the team at Benalla Bus & Coach Lines, businesses that are the backbone of our local manufacturing, timber and transport industries. In Broadford I toured the Allen’s lollies factory, which employs 240 people, including the impressive Emily Bradbury, who gave me a tour of the delicious production lines and even sent me home with some lollies to barter with my children.

Altogether these businesses employ more than 500 people. Five hundred families rely on these jobs to put food on the table during a cost-of-living crisis. That is 500 reasons to fight for businesses in regional Victoria. But doing business in Victoria has ever been tougher. Right now our state ranks dead last in the country for business conditions. WorkCover premiums are through the roof, Labor’s taxes are crippling and rising crime is making it nearly impossible for businesses to keep up. These problems must be fixed, because the longer they wait, the more it costs our businesses, and our towns and our futures suffer. Business owners feel ignored by this government. On this side we stand with businesses that drive our economy, support communities and create opportunity.