Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Small Business, Senator Lundy. Is the minister aware of a recent article published by Dun and Bradstreet in the magazine Small Business Insight which states: 'The number of small businesses going bankrupt over the last 12 months jumped by 48 per cent, while small business start-ups fell by 95 per cent over the same period,' and, 'Business failures were up more than 40 per cent'? Given the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday of the coalition's policy—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

These are the people you are going to deny the tax cut to!

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my right! Senator Ryan is entitled to be heard in silence.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I could not hear any background noise, Mr President.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Continue your question.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday of the coalition's policy of a national small business commissioner, can the minister explain how this new position will fix the problems currently faced by Australian small businesses like the abolition of the entrepreneurs tax offset and new cost burdens associated with the carbon tax—problems that were all created by the Gillard government?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Says the man who wants them to pay more tax!

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong, that is disorderly.

Honourable senators interjecting—

When the debating across the chamber has ceased we will proceed.

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

Australia's hardworking small businesses will now have a direct voice to the Gillard government, so I thank the senator for raising the issue of the Small Business Commissioner. It is the first time that we have had a small business commissioner at the national level. Through this commissioner, small business owners will be able—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I cannot hear Senator Lundy's answer for the noise that is going across the chamber near me.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to 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.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. There was a good segue there. I refer the minister to a statement made by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Small Business yesterday:

Labor understands and supports the aspirations of working people who want to run a decent small business.

Given this, does the government understand the concerns of three in four businesses surveyed by the Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry who believe the carbon tax will have a negative impact on their business? Does the government understand that 84 per cent of businesses surveyed want the carbon tax scrapped altogether? Will the government listen to those complaints from small business?

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

Those opposite have an absolute hide asking questions about small business as though they have their interests at heart. For example, yesterday the member for North Sydney, Mr Hockey, announced that the Liberal Party would not be supporting a tax cut for companies, and this comes right after they turned their backs on the small businesses of Australia and voted against the tax breaks for 2.7 million small businesses in this country.

We recognise, of course, that the carbon price will impact on some business costs. There has been a lot of exaggeration from one side of the debate, but the fact is that the overall price impact is modest at 0.7 per cent. It is true that there will be some cost increases around 10 per cent, but that is why businesses, we expect, will pass on those costs where they cannot change production, and that is why we are providing $15 billion of household assistance over four years, $15 billion dollars in the pockets of people who spend their money— (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Given that in 2009-10 there were over 300,000 jobs lost in the small business sector and today small business start-ups are falling at record rates—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ryan, please resume your seat. Senator Ludwig and Senator Abetz, I could not hear what was going on. I know you two are having a discussion.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Would you like to name Senator Wong for once this question time?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have, previously. You're quite welcome! I was trying to listen to Senator Ryan.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll stop breathing and I'll start interjecting!

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! I am trying to listen to the questioner. The questioner is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator Ryan.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. If I may, I might start again.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, you may.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that in 2009-10 there were over 300,000 jobs lost in the small business sector and that today small business start-ups are falling at record rates and small business owners are facing increasingly high operating costs, why is the government placing even more burdens on small business, in particular through the world's biggest carbon tax? Why won't you listen to small business about that complaint?

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

Again, let's not let the facts get in the way of a good scare campaign from those opposite. We have seen today the Shopping Centre Council of Australia making clear that the clause the coalition is alluding to here was included in leases for small businesses once the debate began on the need to combat greenhouse gas emissions. So it was in the leases when the coalition actually supported pricing carbon. What we know is that this contrivance that somehow the carbon price is going to impact on small business is a complete furphy. The Shopping Centre Council of Australia made that very clear today. The coalition has been left with egg all over its face as a result of that coming to light.

As I said before, it is the Gillard Labor government that is speaking to small business, listening to small business, responding to their needs, delivering as far as our commitment goes, which is not— (Time expired)