Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

China, of course, has one of the fastest growing economies and has the second-largest economy. Over the next decade the middle class in China will grow to around 500 million. This means that companies in the member for Deakin's electorate, companies like Timbermate, which manufactures special putty fillers and wood fillers, will benefit from the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, because four years after the implementation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement the nine per cent tariff on those goods will be eliminated. This will expand their markets and grow their business. It will mean that they can employ more people.

But are there any risks? Indeed, Member for Deakin, there are. Those risks are represented by those opposite—those people who refuse to allow expanded opportunities for small businesses, those who refuse to allow our economy to grow as a result of those expanded opportunities, and refuse more jobs. This is, I think, a national disgrace.

Opposition members interjecting—

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