Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Franklin for her question and her strong interest in the small business community in Tasmania. The Rudd government has had small business firmly in mind in designing its responses to the global financial crisis. The payments under the Nation Building and Jobs Plan, which will begin to flow to households this week, will quickly boost consumption and they will support small business in every community around the country. Let us be clear about this. Without these payments, things would be even tougher for small businesses. They would be under more pressure to cut their staff or reduce their hours. It is a pity that the opposition does not accept these basic economic facts. It is a great pity that the opposition voted against the Nation Building and Jobs Plan.

But I am pleased to advise the House that the business community do clearly support the Nation Building and Jobs Plan, and their response has been overwhelmingly positive. I will just take a selection of two of the responses at the moment. The Council of Small Business of Australia said that it was a confidence boost for small business and that it would:

… provide benefit to many small businesses and to the communities in which they live and operate.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia describes it as:

… a timely shot in the arm for small business.

These payments are a critical and responsible measure to support jobs and growth until the much larger nation-building elements of our plan kick in—our investments in schools, roads and housing. Let us have a look at those. Australia’s 1.3 million tradies, our independent contractors, will be the big beneficiaries of these infrastructure investments, which represent more than two-thirds of the spending under the Nation Building and Jobs Plan. For example, tradies will be given work in the $14.7 billion program of Building the Education Revolution in every Australian school. Tradies will be installing insulation in 2.7 million Australian homes. Tradies will be engaged in the construction of 20,000 social and Defence Housing dwellings, and tradies will be working on improvements to the community infrastructure and upgrading the nation’s roads with $890 million to be spent under this plan.

Tradies will also join other small businesses in benefiting from our 30 per cent small business and general tax break, and that will provide a further stimulus to the economy—again, a point that is rejected by the opposition but supported by business organisations around the country. The NSW Business Chamber has described the tax break in these terms:

NSW businesses will particularly welcome the $2.7 billion package of tax breaks for business.

Again, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia said:

CCCI believes the $2.7 billion tax bonus is an important and timely investment in the lifeblood of the Australian economy—small business.

This is the tax break that the coalition voted against. The Australian Industry Group said:

In particular, business welcomes the $2.7 billion investment incentive.

The Combined Small Business Alliance of Western Australia said, with reference to the $42 billion economic stimulus measures:

… in particular the small business and general business tax breaks, you and your government are to be commended for your initiative and your endeavour to address the nation’s dire economic circumstances.

Master Builders Australia said:

The building industry is predominantly made up of small businesses which should benefit from the Government’s $2.7 billion Small Business and General Tax break.

The National Farmers Federation said:

Further, the $2.7 billion tax break for small businesses … will be greatly appreciated by those small family owned farms.

Finally, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia—

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