Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The difference between this government and the previous government is that we are actually in the business of ensuring that we respond to these challenges. We believe that this country can work its way through these challenges and come out so much stronger as a result of it. This is a government which is helping small business by reforming the tax system, by providing tax cuts to small business, by investing in education and skills development, by providing $42 million in funding over four years for small business advisory services, by investing in infrastructure and by embarking upon an ambitious regulatory reform program covering some 27 areas of overlapping and inconsistent business regulations. As a consequence of that, we are able to actually reduce the amount of red tape.

What we have seen in contrast is a coalition which has been engaging in irresponsible, short-term political opportunism by blocking key budget measures in this chamber. This is a measure which is calculated, surely, to undermine business confidence and consumer confidence. What you find is that the opposition has failed to measure up to its responsibilities to work to ensure that this country meets the challenges that we are facing as a result of the international economic circumstances. What we have seen today is that the national accounts figures have indicated that this is a country that is still enjoying solid growth.