Chris Bowen (Prospect, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I move amendment (1) as circulated in my name:

(1)    Schedule 1, after item 3, page 3 (after line 11),

insert

3A  After subsection 10(1A)

Insert:

      (1B)    At least one of the deputy chairpersons must have a small business background.

The Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007, as the Minister for Small Business and Tourism said in her summing up, creates the position of a second deputy chair of the ACCC. The government has indicated that this will be filled by a person with a small business background. Indeed, the minister emphasised that it will be filled by somebody who has experience in small business—experience at the coalface. I welcome that. If that is the case, why not put it in the legislation? The government already has a similar provision in the legislation under section 7 of the act, which provides that one commissioner must be a person with a consumer background. It is difficult to see why a similar arrangement could not be reached in relation to the position of the second deputy chair. If the government says that it intends to appoint somebody with small business experience as a second deputy chair, we take that at face value. But why not put it in the legislation to ensure that this government and future governments are obliged to do so? I would welcome the minister providing an explanation to the House.

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