Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

TAYLOR () (): My question is to the Treasurer. A short time ago the Treasurer suggested the instant asset write-off was already budgeted for. Can the Treasurer confirm that there are no budgeted funds to extend the instant asset write-off from 1 July this year?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, members on my left! When people ask questions, just wait until there is a response, rather than giving your own opinions.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not for the first time and unfortunately not for the last time the shadow Treasurer is confused. He's confused about the instant asset write-off that has been in the parliament for eight months and is being held up by those opposite, which is in the budget. He's confusing that with any future further assistance that we might give to small business. If he cared about small businesses, he would tell his friends in the Senate to vote for our instant asset write-off. He would stop holding it up. Small business need and deserve that instant asset write-off. If they agree with us, they should have voted for it at any time in the last eight months. Once we get that passed, we can consider whatever further additional assistance small businesses might require.

In addition to that, we are providing energy bill relief for small businesses. On the first occasion when we did that, those opposite didn't support that. They pretend to care about small business, and then they hold up the instant asset write-off in the Senate, and that speaks volumes for the approach that they've taken in this place and in this parliament. So, as we get closer to the end of this parliamentary term, it looks like it will end like it began—us trying to help people with the cost of living and help small businesses, and those opposite opposing us at almost every turn.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was far too much noise during that answer. If this persists, action will be taken.