Jobs and opportunities thanks to Port Macquarie’s growing small business sector was the focal point of a tour by Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack with Port Macquarie Nationals’ MP Leslie Williams and Cowper Nationals’ candidate Pat Conaghan today.

 “Port Macquarie is a vibrant and growing part of the world and it’s fantastic to see how the local small business sector is booming,” Mr McCormack said.

 “The Nationals in Government are working to cut small business taxes, encourage more businesses to relocate or start up in the regions and help create more local jobs.”

 Port Macquarie Nationals’ MP Leslie Williams said the visit to Eastland Truss and Timber showcased a great local success story.

 “Eastland Truss and Timber is a great local success story – helping build hundreds of homes for locals and making dreams such as our new mental health facility a reality,” Mrs Williams said.

 “That’s all done right here in Port Macquarie and means even more locals have jobs and opportunities available locally, which is just fantastic.

 “Port Macquarie is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, and that means more families are looking to build homes, more people are coming to the region with skills and talents and the potential of the region grows along with that, which is just so exciting.”

 Cowper Nationals’ candidate Pat Conaghan said the Federal Nationals in Government have cut the small business tax rate to its lowest level since the Second World War.

“By cutting small business taxes to the lowest level since WWII we are helping local businesses have a go, invest in themselves and create even more local jobs,” Mr Conaghan said.

 “We have also extended the instant asset write-off, to enable more businesses to purchase the tools and equipment they need to grow now and write it off immediately.

 “This means more money is then spent in local shops and the local dollar goes even further.

 “The Nationals understand it is small business – not Government – which creates jobs and that’s why we are always fighting to make sure regional small businesses are able to do what they do best.