The rising cost of living pressures have raised with Opposition leader Peter Dutton during his visit to Torquay.
He met with Liberal candidate for Corangamite Darcy Dunstan during the trip on Tuesday.
He also spoke to small businesses on the Surf Coast on how the ongoing rise in costs was impacting locals.
“One of the businesses we spoke to faced an increase of 300 per cent for their business insurance,” he said,.
“Their workcover premiums were up by almost 20 per cent and their insurance premiums just for workcover was $54,000.”
Mr Dutton said too many small businesses were closing.
“I just don’t think the Prime Minister understands the stress that families and small businesses are under at the moment.
“It’s the industrial relations changes, it’s the cost of regulatory compliance, it’s the land tax, it’s the work cover, and it’s just layer upon layer upon layer.
“It’s why we’ve got so many small businesses who are failing at the moment, and to come out and to talk to families and to talk to partners and others who are running businesses, it’s the lifeblood of our Australian economy.”
