Margaret May (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for Small Business and Tourism. Could businesses in my electorate of McPherson be hurt by proposals to abolish Australian workplace agreements? What changes to the government’s workplace relations legislation could do this damage at the cost of jobs around Australia?

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

I thank the member for McPherson for her question and acknowledge her very strong support for small business in her electorate. I understand the concern expressed by the member for McPherson in her question. I can tell her and other members of this House that, yes, I do know that, if ever the Leader of the Opposition were given the opportunity to make the sorts of changes that he wants, small businesses in her electorate and every electorate represented here in this House would be hurt and there would be a loss of jobs.

The Howard government’s Work Choices legislation has delivered a simpler, fairer and more flexible system for small businesses. They have definitely benefited from our getting rid of unfair dismissal, the reduction of red tape and increased productivity. This would all be at risk if the Leader of the Opposition were to ever get that opportunity. I would like to record in the Hansard what small business people themselves say. Diana Williams of Fernwood Women’s Health Club—and I know there is a Fernwood in the member for McPherson’s and the member for Deakin’s electorates–said:

Ninety-nine per cent of my staff are female, and they are very happy with our AWA arrangements as they provide flexibility and accommodate the kinds of conditions that women in the workforce are looking for. The Opposition’s move to abolish AWAs—

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Brendan O’Connor interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Gorton!

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

This is so important I will repeat it:

The Opposition’s move to abolish AWAs is very disappointing and a step backwards for small business operators.

A step backwards. What small business knows is that Labor is no friend to small business.