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Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO (Penrith) [4.59 p.m.]: Small business matters, especially in the electorate of Penrith. It is important that an elected member stay in touch with his or her local community. Honourable members will be aware of just how diverse such communities can be. The small business community in the Penrith electorate ranges from the traders in Kingswood to those in Cranebrook, South Penrith, Jamisontown, Emu Plains, Emu Heights, Leonay, Blaxland and Glenbrook. Each small business comes with its own responsibilities and challenges. As member for Penrith I take those challenges very seriously and this morning, in conjunction with the Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Illawarra, and Minister for Small Business, I hosted a breakfast with local Penrith businesses.
Approximately 25 local businesses took part in the forum, with 40 people attending the breakfast. The Minister outlined successful government programs aimed at helping small business and, importantly, took questions from the audience. The topics ranged from occupational health and safety to training and issues arising from the challenges experienced by small business enterprises. A point of particular interest related to communication between the small business sector and government. I express my thanks to Yvonne Howie and her team at the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce for their attendance and willingness to assist in any form of communication between the Minister for Small Business and Penrith businesses. One important topic related to the training of staff, and I have undertaken to raise these issues with the relevant Government Ministers.
This was not the first time that problems associated with small business have been explored within the Penrith electorate. Last year the Minister for Regional Development, and Minister for Small Business visited the electorate of Penrith to speak to home-based businesses, via the Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation hosting a "Speed Dating for Business" session at which approximately 100 businesses got together. They exchanged business cards and were allotted two minutes to talk, one minute each. They then moved around in rows of 25 by 25, and by the end of the day the various businesses had been able to communicate with each other. In the case of small business proprietors and home-based business proprietors, communication with one another is very important in dealing with a number of common issues.
I congratulate the Minister on making time to once again visit Penrith and on yet another initiative of his portfolio. I also want to thank some of the local businesses that attended—both new and emerging businesses and some old and well-established businesses. There were representatives from Hi-Craft Home Improvements, which has been established in Penrith for more than 30 years and undertakes home improvements in the way of patios and awnings. There were representatives from WestLink Finance, Penrith City Plumbing, Greygums Bistro, Ace Detailers, local real estate agency United Realty, Bratts Entertainment, Lavender Lingerie, Hix Electrical, Greenscapes Pty Ltd, Adams and Partners, Astral Electrics, local bookkeeper Unbound Business, Light Heart, My Music Megastore, P and A Pools, Spurry Engineering, Easy Web Page Design, Art-Is-Anne, Classic Conveyancing Company, the Workplace Safety Centre, and Serenity. Also in attendance was a naturopath and a representative from a company called Blue Mountains Honey.
I want to make particular mention of My Music Megastore, a long-established business in the electorate of Penrith. It operates from a number of locations in Penrith, providing musical instruments and assistance with the music industry. That company has begun to manufacture drumsticks and is the only manufacturer of drumsticks in Australia. It has set up in the Penrith local area and hopes to export its product. I applaud that company's initiative.