Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to dodgy agreements, if there is duress involved then there is a penalty to be applied. In the event that people honestly make an agreement which is found to be not fair, then in those circumstances no advantage can be gained by the employer. I think that is a sensible and reasonable balance. In relation to a regulation impact statement for this particular provision, the real champions of small business and their employment capacity is very well known and acknowledged by the Howard government; we have championed their cause time and time again—just as much, might I add, as we have championed the cause of the working men and women of this country. It is interesting that the party that alleges it is the ‘champion of the Australian worker’ wants a regulation impact statement on the impact on small business. If we do not have this statement, what would the impact be on the Australian worker, on the Australian man and woman in the workforce? Here we are, with Mr Rudd trying to reinvent himself somehow as the ‘champion of small business’ and thereby forgetting all about the workers of this country, whereas we continually say that we have a balanced approach to these issues. We do champion the cause of small business just as we champion the cause of the working men and women of this country. That is why on occasions such as this we make an on-balance decision that, whilst this undoubtedly will have some—I would suggest minimal, but nevertheless some—impact on small businesses, not to have it, we believe, would have a greater impact on the working men and women of this country and we seek to protect them.