There was no slip-up by the advance team when Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited Mortdale on Friday, June 5, to promote the federal budget benefits for small business.
The previous day, at another shopping centre, photographers had a field day with Mr Abbott in front of The Reject Shop.
At Mortdale, Mr Abbott received a glowing endorsement of the budget from Matt Alderton, who owns three adjoining businesses: Buzzbar Espresso, Network Video and Subway.
Mr Abbott was warmly welcomed by staff, customers and other business owners.
One man called out: ‘‘Tony, I am opening a fish shop up the road thanks to you’’.
Mr Alderton, whose praise for the budget was reported in the Leader last month, told Mr Abbott: ‘‘We were exceptionally happy with the budget.
‘‘It’s made a huge impact on our business.
‘‘Our customers are pretty excited because they are going to get a bunch of new furniture and a new bain-marie for the cakes.’’
Mr Alderton said the abolition of the carbon tax had reduced his electricity bills by 20 per cent.
Mr Abbot said: ‘‘This is typical of the hundreds of thousands of small businesses around this state, the millions around the country, who put their economic life on the line to employ, to serve their customers.
‘‘We don’t appreciate the sacrifices the small business people of our country make to employ their staff, serve their customers, to serve our nation.
‘‘The budget recognises in an unprecedented way the contribution that small business makes to our economy, our society, to the way we live.’’
Mr Abbott said economic growth and construction figures, released this week, showed the economy was getting stronger.
He rejected concern about less favourable figures on trade and retail sales.
‘‘You know pessimism is a very self-defeating emotion,’’ he said.
‘‘Australians are by nature optimistic and I know the Labor Party is trying to talk the economy down.
‘‘You can selectively quote figures to make things look worse than they are but when you look at the overall figures our country’s position is as strong as any in developed world.’’
How well do you think the economy is travelling?
