What small businesses are expecting from tonight's budget

Millions of Australian business owners are anxiously awaiting the Albanese government's fourth Federal Budget.

Brisbane cafe owner Christina Carson told Today she has her good days and bad days when it comes to staying afloat, but she knows what she wants to see announced tonight.

"I want to see strategies that will stimulate consumer spending and any areas that can help small businesses save on costs," she told Today.

READ MORE: The Federal Budget explained

"Wage subsidies is something that I'd be really looking to see, maybe in relation to training new staff, as that's one of our biggest expenses that we're continually faced with."

Christina's business, Cafe Mars, survived the COVID-19 pandemic as well as extreme weather including the Brisbane floods and recent tropical cyclone.

But even with the proposed energy rebate the government has promised for small businesses, Christina said it was the wages that are the main issue she needs help with.

"Again, a majority of our time is spent training new staff and a wage subsidy would help with that training," she said.

And both the employee and employer could benefit from it, maybe after a rebate to both the staff member and the employee for that training."

Hear the full chat wioth Christina and economic adviser, Warren Hogan, in the video above