“Women small business owners are an untapped resource”: Here’s how budget 2023 should prioritise them

Ahead of the federal budget unveiling today, vulnerable women small business owners across Australia are hoping for relief from the relentless cost of living pressures currently plaguing the entire country.

Like many Australians doing it tough, business owners face the stressors of increased fuel and electricity prices plus increases in the cost of raw materials. Still limping from the aftereffects of COVID, small businesses are being hit with a triple whammy of ongoing labour shortages, a slowing economy, and cash flow issues.

Women small business owners, who are an untapped resource, are watching and waiting for the government to lend a much-needed helping hand — not just “hand-outs” — through investing in them.

A strong and stable economy starts with its smallest component, from the cafe on the corner to the e-commerce startup.