Fran Bailey (McEwen, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for McPherson for her question and acknowledge her very strong support for small business in her electorate. I understand the concern expressed by the member for McPherson in her question. I can tell her and other members of this House that, yes, I do know that, if ever the Leader of the Opposition were given the opportunity to make the sorts of changes that he wants, small businesses in her electorate and every electorate represented here in this House would be hurt and there would be a loss of jobs.

The Howard government’s Work Choices legislation has delivered a simpler, fairer and more flexible system for small businesses. They have definitely benefited from our getting rid of unfair dismissal, the reduction of red tape and increased productivity. This would all be at risk if the Leader of the Opposition were to ever get that opportunity. I would like to record in the Hansard what small business people themselves say. Diana Williams of Fernwood Women’s Health Club—and I know there is a Fernwood in the member for McPherson’s and the member for Deakin’s electorates–said:

Ninety-nine per cent of my staff are female, and they are very happy with our AWA arrangements as they provide flexibility and accommodate the kinds of conditions that women in the workforce are looking for. The Opposition’s move to abolish AWAs—

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