The Chamber of Commerce and local businesses recently attended a post budget briefing from Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor.

The briefing was held at Sorrentos Café Mount Gambier, which The Chamber president Candice Fennell said was well-attended by local businesses.

“We had good representation and a good cross section of sectors and industries,” she said.

“The Chamber of Commerce was in a fortunate position to be able to host our Liberal Angus Taylor and Tony Pasin MP to share amongst our business community what the impacts are.

“There was certainly a level of discussion around housing, there was discussion around energy prices, around how small businesses are successful in a world where there are large corporates in our community.

“Also, trying to increase our small businesses scale, like how can we make small businesses band together to be possibly bigger businesses to help them out in those ways.

“To connect with small businesses around what they see as challenges is a very good insight for us as a Chamber on where we are focusing our efforts and what we can do differently.”

Mr Taylor and Mr Pasin also hosted a Q&A session to hear from business owners about what challenges and issues were affecting them.

Ms Fennell was pleased with how Mr Taylor and Mr Pasin responded to attendees and the insight they gave.

“They provided us with a good, balanced view of what it is they focus on,” she said.

“They gave the perspective to the people in the room about what is important to them and what they would have preferred to see adopted and continued even though they are not currently in government.

“It was a good opportunity for us in Mount Gambier to host someone at that level and provide us with some up-to-date information on what the current position is for the opposition.”

Ms Fennell said connecting on an occasion such as the post budget briefing was an easy decision for The Chamber because they are a business organisation representing the local business community.

“I think it is another really good example where The Chamber has got a clear purpose to represent businesses, grow our business community and connect businesses with the right people,” she said.

“It is through forums like that that really showcase if there are challenges in local small businesses and any businesses, The Chamber can step in and help them.”