Ken Ticehurst (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for Small Business and Tourism. Would the minister inform the House how the new workplace relations system will benefit Australian small businesses? Are there any alternative policies?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How’s the ad going, Fran?

Fran Bailey (McEwen, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It’s going well, PM.

Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Crean interjecting

Fran Bailey (McEwen, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition may be informed that the member for Hotham perhaps wanted to ask that question of him as well.

Government Members:

Government members—Where the hell were you?

Fran Bailey (McEwen, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is what he was asking. I thank my colleague for that question and acknowledge his question. Australia’s 1.2 million small businesses have been looking forward to the day when we could deliver on the major challenges that they have wanted addressed. They have wanted, above all else, a good, strong economy in which to work and they have wanted a flexible workplace relations system. That is what this government has delivered in spades.

I can tell you that small business today, though, are having a bit of a shock because they have now heard that the Leader of the Opposition perhaps has some other plans, and it is yet another version of roll-back. Small business have been right behind this government on every one of the 42 occasions that this government has attempted to get rid of the unfair dismissal laws, which the Leader of the Opposition now plans to reinstate. I can tell this House that, over the past 12 months, as I have gone around the country, small business have said to me at almost every single forum that I have held that what they have wanted to do was to get rid of that problem of ‘go away’ money. That is what this government has delivered. This government understands and appreciates the needs of small business. In the words of the Leader of the Opposition—he proclaimed it quite openly—‘The Labor Party is not for small business.’ The latest alternative policy proves that.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.