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

The first point I want to make to the member for Hunter is that these amendments were circulated at 5.30 last night. So there should be no excuse whatsoever for the member for Hunter to complain that he was not made fully aware of what these amendments were, because they were circulated.

This is a great day for small business; it really is. We have 1.2 million small businesses, which make up 95 per cent of all businesses in this country. They employ 3.3 million Australians, and they have been waiting for this day. They think that this is a great outcome. While the member for Hunter has been focusing on that section of the amendments dealing with mergers and acquisitions, as the Treasurer has already said, the role of the ACCC is a very central one in this process. Certainly, all of the small business associations—as the Treasurer has already indicated—are fully behind this amendment and they support it.

I reiterate who these groups are that represent the 1.2 million small businesses in Australia. We have the National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia, COSBOA and the Fair Trading Coalition, including such groups as the MTAA and the National Farmers Federation. These are groups which really believe in investigating issues and assessing what is being put before them because they have to go back and report to their members on exactly how they find a situation. They have closely examined these amendments and they are of the view that they support the government’s position. That is why I say it is a very important day for small businesses.

In particular, in respect of the collective bargaining amendment for small business, as every small business person in this country is well aware, the formal process of authorisation was a very lengthy and very expensive process for small business. Now that is being changed to the notification process. This is going to give clarity and transparency. All of the amendments give great certainty to small business, and that is why small business is so very strongly in favour of what the government is doing.

Let us look at a little of the detail of the changes to the amendment affecting collective bargaining. As I have said, this makes it cheaper and quicker for small business. Under the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2005 the notification process will normally be 14 days. The ACCC does not have to approve this; it considers it and then, if it objects, it has the right and responsibility to do so. I said it is much cheaper for small business. Let us have a look at that. Under the previous notification process, it would cost a small business, on average, $7½ thousand. That is a lot of money for a small business to find. Now that fee will come down to around $1,000. Importantly, individual threshold levels will be covered by regulation, and these regulations will be introduced no later than six months after the passage of this bill. Consultation has characterised this whole process by the government and, importantly, ongoing consultation will occur.

Mr Deputy Speaker, let me give you some examples of what some organisations believe the benefits to be. Bill Healey, the national affairs director of the AHA, representing thousands of small business people, said that the reforms to collective bargaining will provide a quicker and cheaper way for small businesses to deal with big business, adding great confidence and security in negotiating transactions.

The thing that sets the government apart from the opposition is that we have consulted with small business and we have listened to them. We have their support on this and every other matter because it is this government that is providing the strong operating environment for them. It is providing a competitive, fair environment. (Time expired)

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