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

I thank the member for Hasluck for her question and for organising meetings with the Swan Chamber of Commerce and the Kalamunda Chamber of Commerce. That was a very good opportunity to discuss the issues of concern for small business in her electorate. She has always been a strong advocate for small business. Yes, Opposition Leader, that is you and it is coming. You have a very confused look on your head and we will get to that.

During the global recession, the Rudd Labor government supported small businesses through the stimulus package and through a special small-business tax break. We think they behaved magnificently, keeping people on, although perhaps reducing hours. We want to thank them and support them during the recovery phase through small-business tax breaks. There are two major tax breaks. The first is that for every one of Australia’s small businesses, 2.4 million of them, there would be instant write-off of the value of assets up to $5,000. That has been strongly welcomed by the Council of Small Business of Australia. Contrary to assertions from the opposition, it applies to every small business in Australia.

The second tax break is a reduction in the company tax rate from 30 per cent to 28 per cent. That is a head start reduction—that is, starting on 1 July 2012. That is great news for small business as well—great news if we can get the legislation through the Senate, but the bad news is that the opposition has already indicated that it will block the small-business tax breaks. What has the opposition got against small business? The member for Herbert will have to explain to the 11,133 businesses in his electorate why he is denying them a tax break and, if he does not, we will. So, for the member for Herbert there are 11,000. The member for Hinkler is here. The member for Hinkler will need to explain to the 10,000 small businesses in his electorate why the coalition would deny them a small-business tax break and, if he does not, we will.

The member for Ryan will not be explaining anything and he is not here today, but the candidate for Ryan—and I am reliably informed Councillor Jane Prentice from the Liberal-National Party is looking good there at two to one on—will have to explain to the 12,500 businesses in the electorate of Ryan why she is denying them a small-business tax break. I saw that my friend the member for Dickson was having a chat with the member for McPherson. It is not too late. You can make the move to McPherson, but, if you do not get the nod there, if you cannot convince the existing candidate, then the member for Dickson will have to explain to 11,900 small businesses why he is denying them a tax break. Why would you do that?

The member for Bowman is not here. I think he is into the party pies early. He has gone. A total of 11,676 small businesses will be saying, ‘Why am I being denied a small-business tax break by the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Bowman?’ The member for Gilmore will have to explain to 8,000 small businesses. The member for Greenway will have to explain to 12,960 small businesses why she is denying them a tax break. I see the member for Hughes. The member for Hughes will have to explain why 12,000 small businesses in her electorate are going to miss out on a tax break if her leader gets his way. The member for Macarthur, if he still has any interest in the matter, will have to explain to 8,400. The member for Paterson has 4,194. That is a big job. Go around door-to-door and explain. He can also explain why he cannot read the newspaper that editorialised in favour of the resources tax, in favour of the mining industry paying more tax.

The member for McEwen was formerly the Minister for Small Business and Tourism. Why wouldn’t a former small business minister go to the opposition leader and say, ‘Don’t do it, Tony, please don’t do it, because I will have to explain to 12,000 small businesses why I am denying them a small-business tax break.’ There are 5,175 small businesses for the member for Sturt. The member for Swan—

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