Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to address a number of matters raised tonight, not by way of the set piece speeches my colleagues have delivered—which is, of course, their entitlement—but to go through and look at some of these matters. The first thing I want to say is I am always amused when I hear the Australian Labor Party talking about their concern for small business. If you look at their record, Madam Acting Deputy President, you would be acutely aware that it is absolutely appalling.

I want to give you some quotes in relation to what the Australian Labor Party thinks of small business. In July 2000 Kim Beazley, the member for Brand, admitted:

... we have never pretended to be a small business party, the Labor Party, we have never pretended that.

The opposition leader, Kevin Rudd, admitted that the party has been absolutely atrocious on small business. Greg Combet, who is coming in, said in 2005, ‘I’m afraid I am not a small business advocate.’ Of course he is not, and no-one in the Australian Labor Party is.