A strong local economy

It is vital that we have a strong local economy that creates local jobs. We must ensure that local businesses and industries are encouraged to create jobs and income. We need lower, simpler and fairer taxes and less regulation. We must make it easier for businesses to employ people by providing incentives not barriers for them to do so.

It is also vital that we have in place rules that encourage young Australians to work. Students in our region have been working after school for the last hundred years. Now hundreds of students across Western Victoria have lost work after school due to new rules that prevent them working fewer than three hours a day. We must put in place new rules that allow students to work after school again. Young people gain vital work experience and financial independence from part-time work. It just doesn’t pass the common-sense to prevent them from working after school.