Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs and Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy. Will the minister advise the House of the level of interest in the government’s Small Business Online program? Will he update the House on the online information that is available to small business?

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Moreton, a good friend colleague and neighbour—he is the member for an electorate neighbouring mine. I know that, through all his work before he was elected and, since that, he was dedicated to supporting the small business community of the south side of Brisbane. This is the 27th question that I have received from the government side of the chamber on small business matters. I want to thank each and every member of the Rudd Labor government for their interest and support in small business. It is my melancholy duty to advise the House that it is now 517 days since I last got a question from the shadow small business minister, which is two days longer than the siege of Leningrad.

In the May budget, the Rudd government allocated $10 million to help small businesses go online to take full advantage of the opportunities that will be offered by the National Broadband Network. I thank the Prime Minister for his support for that initiative. Indeed, there has been very strong interest in the delivery of this program, with more than 300 applications having been received for that funding program. We expect to announce the successful applicants by the end of next month. I am asked also about existing online information for small businesses. I can advise the House that the government website business.gov.au is proving both popular and very effective. A recent survey of users found that last month there were 472,000 visits to that website and that it helped achieve median savings to businesses of $325. So that is good news.

business.gov.au, however, is not the only website providing information to small business. In fact, the shadow small business minister operates his own website and it provides criticism of the government’s small business policies. We expect that from the coalition—just criticism, no constructive comment. But on a related website the shadow small business minister urges local residents ‘to get behind my alcohol-free October to help raise money and educate children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol’. That is good. On 27 September the Gold Coast Bulletin reported on this good initiative, and said that the shadow minister, in promoting an alcohol-free month of October—called ‘Ocsober’—had ‘signed up to stay sober for the entire month’. That is good. But today the Gold Coast Bulletin has run a story headed, ‘Ciobo busted drinking in Ocsober’. That is bad.

Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors, Tourism and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order on relevance. I am not going to take a lecture from this boozing bully from the Holy Grail—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moncrieff will resume his seat. I do not know whether the member for Moncrieff will appreciate the way that I am going to be charitable to him, but I will allow him to remain for the rest of the answer.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He did want to go but he has the MPI. In excusing his transgressions the shadow minister explained that he bought leave passes that allowed him to have a drink. When asked how many leave passes he had bought for the month of Ocsober, he answered, ‘Four.’ Four leave passes! The paper quotes him explaining today:

“If I had not been able to purchase leave passes, I probably would not have participated.

“It was a crucial part of the deal.”

So the deal was, ‘I’ll pretend I’m sober but I’ll get drunk on four occasions, or at least have a few drinks.’

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I suggest to the minister that there is a limit. I suggest the minister settles down a bit and is a little careful about how far he uses the material. Up until now it has probably been taken in good nature but he is starting to overstep the line.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that advice. I accept your advice as always, Mr Speaker. I am in the home stretch now. It seems that during Ocsober the shadow minister has been off the wagon almost as much as he has been on it, but the good news—

Don Randall (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. How can this be edifying to the national parliament and be relevant at the same time?

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whilst it is relevant to the question, as I indicated, there is a limit as to how far it should be taken. The minister should bring his answer to a conclusion.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Indeed I am. The good news for the shadow minister is that there is only two days left in Ocsober, which means he can have a drink and—

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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