James Stevens (Sturt, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have appreciated listening to the contributions on the debate, particularly from those in the government that have indicated how much they understand that small business is a vital part of our economy. I have to say that you wouldn't know it based on the agenda that they have been pursuing since they came to government. They might have a messaging problem on that point, because I can tell you that the small businesses in my electorate are not beating a path to my office to tell me how much they appreciate the way in which the Albanese government is supporting them. In fact, it is quite the reverse, because all businesses, small in particular, are really struggling under this government, whether it's through skyrocketing prices on electricity, other business costs or these IR changes that are all about punishing small business and making it difficult to employ people and grow our economy, which is what all small businesses are looking to do. That benefits all of us, particularly the people that work in those businesses.

Businesses are not the enemy, and governments shouldn't be about amending industrial relations laws and other laws to treat small businesses as if they're looking to exploit people—their workers. They care about their workers. They genuinely cherish the opportunity to not only employ people and grow their business but also give someone a job in our economy. I've also got to say that the lowest paid workers in our economy by far are small-business owners. Some of them earn hourly rates way below the minimum wage. Some of them open businesses on weekends and staff them themselves, and, when they look at what their turnover is for opening on a Saturday—a small newsagent or whatever—compared to what they should have been paid for working those hours, it's nowhere near the minimum wage. But they put their capital on the line, they contribute to the economy and they work hard. We would particularly like them to succeed, grow and employ more people. Certainly, what the Liberal Party and the coalition are all about is doing exactly that.

There are two elements to this bill I want to briefly touch on. The first, of course, is the instant asset write-off. In the second reading amendment we've made it very clear that, whilst we're supporting this small initiative of the government—the instant asset write-off—we think it should be much more significant and we would like to see the value increased and the eligibility increased.

I commend my good friend the member for Riverina, who is here in the chamber, who sat around the cabinet table that brought in that instant asset write-off and dramatically expanded it in those very desperate times when we needed to give business a huge amount of confidence to open up the chequebook and make decisions that would get economic activity supported through those tough times. We are the party of the instant asset write-off, and this is a bit of a pale imitation of what we did in government. So we would like to see this figure be much higher than $20,000. We would like the eligibility to be much broader.

The second point I would just like to make is on the energy rebate—schedule 2. It's very curious that, for the instant asset write-off, eligible businesses are those with a turnover of up to $10 million and that, miraculously, it increases for the energy rebate. That businesses with up to $50 million should be eligible for one but not the other seems blatantly unfair and very peculiar.

It's also just sloppy that the government are bringing this through our House in November. This is a scheme that is meant to currently be operating and meant to be eligible up to 30 June next year. It will probably move through our House this week. No-one knows what will happen to it in the Senate, but in the best case it might pass just before Christmas. For businesses to take advantage of this, they've got a precious six months to do so, by 30 June next year. I think that it's very unfortunate that, if there's merit in this proposal that the government is putting forward, they haven't been expeditious in legislating the thing so that businesses can actually take advantage of it. That's very disappointing.

I commend the second reading amendment from the shadow Treasurer. The government should look very closely at how they can do a lot more for business than this. Nonetheless, we won't stand in the way of the passage of this bill. It is a meagre support to business. It is a pale imitation of what we did in government, but if this is all the government's prepared to put forward then of course we will support it. I commend the second reading amendment to the House.

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