Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I know the member is indifferent to the instant asset write-off, worth over a billion dollars to small businesses—a major boost to their cash flow. Certainly it is understood by small business organisations if it is not understood by the shadow minister over there.

I was also asked about the impact of the carbon price. The shadow minister knows full well that it is paid by the largest companies in the country. They want to go round as part of their fear campaign and argue that somehow it is imposed directly on a whole host of businesses. He knows that is not true; it is simply part of their continuous fearmongering to obscure the fact that if they were in charge of this country they would take the axe to spending and they would send unemployment through the roof. That would lead to business closures. That is the sort of austerity plan they have for Australia, which they are trying to hide behind a commission of audit. There has been an experiment in this country in recent times. It is from Premier Newman in Queensland and it has produced the worst economic results of any state in the country.

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