Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is directed to the Minister for Small Business. I refer the minister to the representations I have had from Mr Russell Parson of the Little Creek Cheese Shop in my electorate. Due to the rising cost of gas and electricity as a result of the carbon tax, he made a decision not to employ an additional shop assistant. What impediments are there to repealing the carbon tax and helping small business operators like Mr Parson create jobs?

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There you have it: for a Labor Party that might be remotely interested in jobs, there is evidence of the impact of your job-destroying carbon tax. It backs up all the other case studies that have been brought to this chamber and shared with Labor time and time again, case studies of how the carbon tax that you promised not to implement but went ahead and implemented has cost jobs in the Australian small business community. But you did not want to know about. There are 412,000 Australians now not employed in small business—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. Unless the minister is claiming that you, Madam Speaker, did not want to know about, he should speak through the chair.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the minister. He will direct his remarks through the chair.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is continuing evidence of their indifference to the economic plight of small business in this country. Here is a case study of the cost burdens that the carbon tax that you promised not to introduce has had on Australian small businesses. You went around saying—

An opposition member interjecting—

The Labor Party went around saying—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. Madam Speaker, it ought not be difficult for him to speak through the chair.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was not aware that he was speaking directly to any particular person, but the minister will direct his remarks through the chair.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, you know that 412,000 jobs were lost in small business under Labor and you know the impact that the carbon tax has had. You know that small business is asked about Labor's contribution to the success of their enterprise; and the Sensis Business Index time and time again identifies that small businesses view Labor's contribution as being negative to their economic prospects. Here they go: you do not want to hear about it, do you, Albo?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Madam Speaker. In his comments, the minister is now reflecting on you and your impartiality.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. But perhaps the Minister for Small Business will desist from using the word 'you'.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is the evidence for the indifference Labor has to the women and of small business.

We have seen in the most recent Sensis survey a 62 per cent positive turnaround in the sentiment of small business towards Commonwealth government policies. What do they talk about? They say: 'Support amongst SMEs for the federal government improved dramatically following the recent federal election, bringing this indicator to the highest point it's been since November 2007.' They go on to describe this as a turnaround of 62 percentage points following the federal election. The reason for that is that the coalition took a small business policy to the electorate. The coalition bothered to engage with the men and women of small business. At the heart of that agenda was the abolition of the carbon tax.

You have heard from Mr Parsons at Little Creek Cheese. We have heard of examples right across the place. Why don't you just sit down?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Madam Speaker. I appreciate that he has practised the answer using the word 'you'. But he should listen to your ruling, Madam Speaker. It is not that hard. Every other member of parliament can do it.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. The minister will conclude his answer.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Here we have at the heart of our policy the abolition of the carbon tax. All the Abbott government wants to do is get on and implement its policies. What a novel idea that would be after Labor came to office promising not to do something and then went ahead and did it. What we say to Mr Parsons and all of those small business men and women is this: we are on your side; we are your best advocates; we will not rest until we get rid of this carbon tax—the carbon tax that Labor promised not to introduce and then went ahead and introduced that contributed to the loss of 412,000 jobs in small business. Shame on you, Labor. At least get out of the road so we can get on with our job.