David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer ) Share this | Hansard source

It is a very pertinent question that the member for Chifley asks. I know that when he asked that question he had in his mind the 9,800 small businesses in his electorate because he knows in the same way as Mr Anderson knows—who was quoted in the Age this morning—that if this tax relief is not provided there will be very serious consequences for small businesses all around this country. Indeed, this morning in the Age Mr Anderson said:

A tax cut would enable us to retain staff and even invest in staff training and new machinery and equipment.

He went on to say:

Without it, it will be very challenging.

Indeed, without tax relief it will be very challenging for the 2.7 million small businesses around Australia, particularly those that are not in the fast lane. There are many in this place who understand how important it is to recognise that some sectors are not doing it as well as others. Just last year, the member for Longman very wisely said at a press conference:

In Caboolture we have twice the national average unemployment rate and we have a local economy that's dependent on small business, retail and tourism…

Wyatt Roy interjecting—

When the member for Longman said that, I am sure he was thinking about—

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