Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Forrest for her question, and I am delighted to be asked about the people of Forrest because, like every other electorate in the country, Forrest is full of hardworking small-business people who deserve a fair go. And that is exactly what they are going to get from this government, and that is exactly what they are getting from this budget. This budget is about a fair go for small business, a fair go for people who are having a go for the benefit of the people of our country.

At the heart of this budget is a $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business. That is the heart of this budget: a $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business. This is one for the tradies of Australia. This is one for the tradies of Forrest. It is one for the tradies of every electorate, because they are having a go and they deserve a fair go from government, and that is exactly what they will get from this government. It is one for the tradies of Australia who will be able to re-equip their workshops. It is one for the tradies of Australia who will be able to upgrade their tool kits because they are working hard, and some of them are doing it tough. They deserve a fair go because they are having a go for Australia.

This budget has probably been the best budget ever for small business, as demonstrated by the reaction. Let me read what Peter Strong, the executive director of COSBOA, has said. He said that 'this is a small business budget', that the $20,000 tax write-off is extraordinary and will send a message loud and clear to people that the government is thinking about them—in a good way—giving them something that will really motivate them to go and spend and buy things and grow their business or save their business and employ people and get cash flowing through the economy. The head of the Business Council said that this small business package is an absolute 'shot in the arm', and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry said:

… it turbo-charges Australia's two million small businesses, and small business is the backbone of Australia.

That is what this budget does. It turbocharges the small businesses of Australia, who are the backbone of our economy. By contrast, what will the Leader of the Opposition give them? Well, we will see tonight night, won't we? We will see tonight. But I know what he has in his heart for them: the carbon tax comes back, the mining tax comes back, there are more superannuation taxes. Even the member for Lilley comes back, because he is the man preparing their election policy.

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