Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

As I was saying, through the commissioner, small business owners will be able to access information, advice and referral to services, including business advisory services and dispute resolution services. The commissioner will work with the minister to ensure government agencies take into account the needs of small business, including ways in which we can manage the regulatory burden on them. The commissioner will also work with other jurisdictions to promote effective partnerships to complement services to small businesses. We expect the commissioner will be appointed in the second half of 2012 and will officially begin on 1 January 2013.

The announcement follows the appoint­ment of the first small business minister to cabinet and shows how seriously the Gillard government takes the needs of small business. In contrast to the premise of the question by the senator opposite, this government actually cares about business. They contribute an enormous amount. There are 2.7 million small businesses in Australia and we are obviously doing far more to service their needs than we have ever got from those opposite. Last year, for example, the government consulted with small business people, their peak organisations and state and territory governments on options—for example, the dispute resolution services. The establishment of a commissioner and advocate was well established back then, so this is an example of the Gillard Labor government responding to the needs of small business, not completely ignoring them, like those senators opposite.