Thanks to Duncan's Plumbing in Page ACT

Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, with nearly two-thirds of Canberra’s workers employed in the private sector. In many cases, small businesses are also important parts of our communities and neighbourhoods, bringing people together and supporting worthwhile endeavours.

Three weeks ago, I attended the Page Shopping Centre Barbecue, sponsored by Duncan’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. Duncan’s is a well-regarded landlord for many other shopkeepers in Page and supports the Belconnen Community Men’s Shed, community events, and number of sporting teams across the region. In the Assembly today, I rose to thank Jason Duncan and all his employees for making so many valuable contributions to our community.

Click on the arrow button to read my speech.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We all know that small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. More than 30,000 private sector enterprises operate across Canberra, the majority of them small. And despite our reputation as a city of public servants, nearly two-thirds of our workforce are employed in the private sector.[1]

Small business owners are champions, who assume enormous personal risk as they create and grow their businesses. Their commitment to innovation and excellence keeps essential and desired services available whilst providing their employees with opportunities to develop, to grow, and to provide for themselves and their families.

In many cases, small businesses are also important elements of our communities and neighbourhoods, building connections, bringing people together, and supporting worthwhile endeavours. This is certainly true of Duncan’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, located in Page in my electorate of Ginninderra. Besides owning its own premises, Duncan’s also acts as the well-regarded landlord for many of the other shopkeepers in Page. It is obvious that owner Jason Duncan and his team take great pride in the way that they manage and maintain these properties, making the Page Shops an inviting place to visit.

Duncan’s also supports the Belconnen Community Men’s Shed, located right next door. It sponsors a number of sporting teams across the Canberra region, including the Belconnen United Sharks, Hockey ACT and the Canberra Brave, Softball ACT, and even the Queanbeyan Yowies basketball team. It has also been a major sponsor of community events, such as the Weetangera School Fete.

The first weekend in March, it was my privilege to attend another community event sponsored by Duncan’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning: the Page Shopping Centre Barbecue. I rise today to thank Jason and his team for once again being good neighbours and helping to build and strengthen community by bringing people together. The food, of course, was fantastic, and the vibe was relaxed and happy.

I was thrilled to see that the Canberra Prosperous Mountain Dragon and Lion Dance team had been invited to this community celebration. As part of their performance, they blessed each of the six shops for the coming year. After two very difficult years for our local small businesses, what a lovely gesture!

I sincerely hope that 2022 will see Duncan’s prosper. I hope that this same prosperity will be enjoyed by all the small business owners at the Page shops, across my electorate, and across this territory. I give my sincere thanks to Jason Duncan and all his employees for making so many valuable contributions to our Canberra community. Thank you.

[1] Canberra Business Chamber, ‘World Small Business Day: Canberra business numbers reach a new milestone’, https://www.canberrabusiness.com/mr/world-small-business-day-canberra-business-numbers-reach-a-new-milestone/.