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

I repeat: this includes a number of financial incentives for hard work that cannot be offered under a traditional wage structure.

I am asked if there are any threats to this. I have to tell the House that there are very real threats because in 33 days time the national conference of the ALP will be held. That will decide their small business policy. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Rankin have been wandering around the country making vague statements and pretending that they are listening to small business, when in fact we know that the only people they are listening to are Greg Combet and his mates—and he is on record as saying that there should be no exemptions to unfair dismissal.

I notice that, once again, the Leader of the Opposition has turned his back to us in question time. That means that he is actually turning his back on small business at the moment. Mr Speaker, through you, I ask the Leader of the Opposition: do you have the courage to face small business?

See this speech in context