Zoe Daniel (Goldstein, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support for the member's of Warringah's amendment and to note that, in this House, we now have several proposals for the definition of 'small business'—everything from 200 to 100 to 50. There is a reflected concern, I think, across this House around how this legislation will affect small businesses. I know that I've had these discussions with the minister. I rise simply to have it recorded that, whatever number the government ends up landing on, the concern is broad. I think the concern is multipartisan and that there are concerns among businesses across electorates and across Australia that, potentially, they will be unintentionally drawn in under this legislation.

In Goldstein, an electorate that has something like 17,000 small businesses, from small manufacturers to small cafes and such, those with a 15 headcount who would have casuals, 15-year-olds, working in their cafes, in the hospitality businesses, could potentially be drawn in to mandatory multi-employer bargaining under this legislation. I understand that there's an argument for small businesses of a particular size to be able to bargain collectively. I think the line in the legislation as it stands at a 15 headcount is wrong, and I rise again to just really press home the point to the government that when this legislation go to the Senate this is something that really deserves due consideration. Thank you.

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