Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry, Mr Deputy Speaker Georganas, I am just a bit speechless after listening to the member for Herbert on the Armageddon that will prevail as a result of the carbon price. What nonsense! If they were not competitive now, then they are never going to be competitive. What nonsense! We have seen those opposite run scare campaigns in recent weeks on regional Australia. We have seen those opposite run scare campaigns, as we heard today from the member for Herbert, on Fairfax. They have avoided scare campaigns on pannacotta, but I think that is probably next week's job. We have seen today those opposite run scare campaigns on homeless cats and dogs. So, it was only a matter of time before we saw them running a scare campaign on small business.

This government is committed to helping small business be part of a move to a clean energy future and part of a clean energy future for Australia. I want to set some facts straights because the amount of nonsense that has been floating around this afternoon in this chamber is breathtaking and it makes me speechless. The carbon price mechanism is not a tax on households and small businesses. Fact—small businesses do not pay a carbon price. Fact—small businesses do not have to fill in a single form as part of the carbon price reform. The member for Herbert, I think you were in small business before you came into this chamber, as were a number of your colleagues.

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