“I can’t encourage strongly enough people in rural and regional communities to shop locally this Christmas. It is vitally important that we give businesses in our regional communities as much support as we can,” she said.

 

Senator Nash is visiting southern NSW again to hear concerns about the impact of the draft Murray Darling Basin plan on local communities and businesses.

 

“The draft Murray Darling Basin plan, along with the planned introduction of the carbon tax and increasing red tape, are among the concerns of small business in regional communities,” she said.

 

“Which is why we need to shop locally rather than going to larger regional centres, cities or doing it online. If you don’t know what to buy for Christmas, try gift certificates that are offered by local businesses.

 

“I’ve done all my Christmas shopping in my home town and I hope others do the same.”

 

Of the 2.7 million small businesses nationally, 35 per cent are in regional areas. Small business in Australia provides almost four million jobs.

 

Yet since Labor came to power, 300,000 jobs have been lost in small business and there are 20,000 fewer small businesses and family enterprises.