MPs doing it rough

By Simon Black and Lawrence Bull

State Minister Verity Firth will roll up her sleeves and step behind the counter at Galluzzo’s Fruit Market on Glebe Point road tomorrow.

She joins over 80 state and federal members of Parliament who have been making sandwiches, planting trees, painting nails, packing groceries, baking cakes and selling mobile phones as part of the NSW Business Chamber Pollies for Small Business program this week.

Owner and manager of Galluzzo’s, Joe Galluzzo , told City News he wasn’t sure what he would be getting the Minister to do but was looking forwards to talking to her about the challenges of small business.

“If she’s good with numbers I might get her on the register,” he joked.

“That can be complicated though, or maybe she could help me if we have a truck that needs unloading.”

Galluzzo’s Fruit Market has been in Joe’s family for 76 years and like most small businesses it has faced its share of obstacles.

“A lot of the time it can be things you don’t think of, the biggest drop we had in sales was after the council put in the paid parking.”

“That was worse for us than when they opened up Broadway around the corner.”

The Minister said small businesses were invaluable to the community and she would look for local and state government support.

“We must make every effort to support the small businesses that make strips like Glebe Point Road as vibrant and delightful as they are,” she said.

“That means ensuring the appropriate infrastructure and planning rules to support a diversity of small business rather than privileging shopping centres.”

Earlier this week the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, helped out at businesses across Chinatown finishing with a visit to the Golden Century restaurant.

She told City News the small businesses of the city brought “diversity and liveliness” to the streets.

“About 85 per cent of the operations in the City are small businesses, employing less than 20 people,” she said.

“A thriving and creative small-to-medium business sector is integral to the City’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision.”

“We must nurture and promote these businesses if we are to realise our full potential as a City.”

Pollies for Small Business Week will run until July 31. Verity Firth will be at Galluzzo’s Fruit Market, 187 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe between 10am and 1pm.