Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Once again, the opposition demonstrates that they are trying to walk both sides of the street. They are crying poor about the impact of the global recession on Australia’s small businesses, yet when it came to the chance to vote for a measure that would assist small businesses in this country they voted against it. They have no credibility—no credibility at all. The small business tax break, this particular benefit for small business, means they will receive an extra 30 per cent tax break for assets costing more than $1,000 compared with $10,000 for other businesses. Those opposite had the chance to vote for it and what did they do? They chose to oppose it.