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

We want the good people of Braddon to have higher wages on the back of stronger growth. That's what we want; that's precisely what we want. We want there to be stronger demand for workers in Braddon so that businesses in Braddon, and all around Australia, are forced to pay more to secure their services. Do you know who understands this? Somebody who is actually right in the neighbourhood when it comes to Braddon: the member for Bass—right next door—Mr Ross Hart. I wonder what he was saying today. In fact, in his first speech he said that 'small business does well when everyone does well'. And 'everyone' includes big business, it includes workers, small business—

Senator Bilyk interjecting—

Look at Mr Ross Hart's first speech: 'small business does well when everyone does well'. Do you know what? Small business does well when big business does well. If big business does badly—because you're forcing them to be less competitive—small business will do badly. And when small business does badly, the people of Braddon will do badly. (Time expired)