Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, why is there not one dollar of compensation for small business in these 19 carbon tax bills?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Calare is warned.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say to the member who has raised this question that he should look to measures that the government has and is providing, like the instant tax write-off for new assets for small businesses, an important measure increased to $6,500, an important measure for small businesses. I also say to the member who has engaged in the stunt today of walking to the dispatch box: what does he say to those small businesses about the opposition's plan to impose a cost—whether it was imposed on families or small business we are still waiting for clarification—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: the Prime Minister was asked a very straightforward question about the compensation in the carbon tax package. She has been talking about every other small business measure except what is in the carbon tax package and I ask you to direct her back to the question she was asked.

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

Order! The Prime Minister has the call. The Prime Minister knows the requirements of the standing orders.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the carbon-pricing legislation which has passed the parliament today: first, and despite the continued misrepresentations of the opposition, the people who will pay the price on carbon are the biggest polluters in this country. I refer the opposition to the legislation that in their relentless negativity they have voted against. I refer the opposition to the fact that the money paid—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Prime Minister will resume her seat. The chamber will continue when we have quiet. The Prime Minister has the call.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer the opposition to the fact that the money raised by putting a price on carbon, paid by those biggest polluters, will be used to put more money in the hands of Australian taxpayers, those who need it the most, more money in the hands of Australian pensioners—indeed, pensioner households, 1.8 million of them, will on average come out in front—and more money in the hands of those who have family payments.

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

The member for Dunkley may as well sit down.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They are the people that go and use the services of small businesses. The member for Dunkley might want to think about that. They are the people who go and buy things from small businesses. Yes, we have been upfront all along in saying that there will be a price impact—0.7 per cent, less than a cent in a dollar—and that is why we have provided extra money to families and to pensioners as they continue to consume the services from those small business people.

I do invite a contrast with a plan which would enable the alternative government, if it were ever elected, to pick winners and drag money out of families and small businesses to pay for it. I also say the following about the government's plan and, in saying it, I refer the House to the following words, because they are very wise words and the House should be reminded of them. My attention has been drawn to a statement which says the following:

It was actually the coalition that instigated work on the emissions trading scheme. In fact, I have in my hand a report that I helped author back in 1998 which talks about regulatory arrangements for trading in greenhouse gas emissions—1998!

…   …   …

The coalition’s commitment to an ETS is demonstrable.

Words from the member for Dunkley. It is a pity—

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

The Prime Minister will bring her answer to a conclusion.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a very great pity that, fuelled by hypocrisy, he did not vote consistently with those words today.