Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, it is correct that this relates only to standard form contracts. Secondly, I am aware of the view of Independent Contractors. Obviously there is a diversity of views here and the thing to bear in mind is that this legislation is proposed to apply in the economy as a whole. It is not something that just applies to independent contractors. It something that small business across the whole of the Australian economy will be able to be access. As such, we obviously have to make a balanced judgement in that context. In relation to the final question, the government was asked whether we would support an inquiry by the Senate Economics References Committee and we were happy to offer that support in the two-year time period, which was the question that was put to us. While Senator Leyonhjelm may well be right that government support is not necessary on all occasions, depending on how the numbers lie, but I would have thought that government support for such an inquiry is at least helpful. I was not trying in any way to overstate what we had agreed to; I was just responding to a straight question as put to me by Senator Xenophon with a straight answer.