Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for Small Business and Tourism. Would the minister outline to the House how the government’s workplace relations changes will enable small business to prosper and employ more Australians?

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

I thank the member for La Trobe for his question. Ninety five per cent of all businesses in this country are small businesses and I can tell the House that their immediate reaction to the government’s new laws has been overwhelmingly positive. Let me tell the House what the grassroots of small business are saying. Con and Marie de Groot, owners of the Healesville newsagency, said, ‘We welcomed the introduction of the legislation some weeks ago and therefore employed an additional person on an AWA. We are appreciative of the flexibility, certainty and, consequently, the increased opportunity to offer local employment.’

Another small business man, Sydney trailer maker Elvis Kiseloski, who employs five people, said that the reforms have allowed him to ‘breathe a sigh of relief’. He said, ‘These new laws make it enticing for us to put on someone else.’

The opposition leader has been well aware of the restrictions to growth that have been impeding small business. In fact, in May of last year he said, ‘Small business owners are telling me that they do not want to be held to ransom by rogue employees,’ yet he has been prepared to do absolutely nothing—unlike this government, which has delivered for small business, enabling small business to grow and prosper.