Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that the Government is providing practical assistance to small business;

(2) recognises:

(a) the allocation of $8 million in the 2014-15 budget to establish the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman;

(b) that the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman will act as an advocate for small business, cut previous compliance burdens and reduce red-tape;

(c) that the Government has a sustainable strategy in place to cut $1 billion in red tape every year for small business workplaces; and

(d) that on Wednesday 19 March 2014, the Government introduced legislation and tabled documentation to repeal more than 10,000 pieces and over 50,000 pages of legislation and regulations, saving over $700 million in compliance costs across the economy; and

(3) commends the Government for providing real, practical assistance to small business, encouraging productivity in the Australian economy.

This government is providing practical help to assist small business. The coalition has always been a friend and supporter of small business. Our initiatives, including the allocation of $8 million in the 2014-15 federal budget to establish the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, is a positive step to assisting business. The Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman seeks to act as an advocate for small business to cut previous compliance burdens and reduce red tape. We have a positive, sustainable strategy in place to cut $1 billion in red tape every year for our small business workplaces.

I for one commend this government for providing real practical assistance to small business, encouraging productivity in the Australian economy. Australia now has a government that is making life for all small business operators easier, not harder. I firmly believe that small business is the engine room of our economy. It is business that creates job. Small business owners, who put their livelihood on the line to create jobs, deserve support from government. I resolutely believe in creating a stronger economy with more jobs and a stronger small business sector, especially for my electorate of Dobell.

This motion confirms the parliament's support for the measures introduced by this government, which strengthen and enhance prospects for small business owners Australia-wide. This government has provided solid evidence of supporting Australian small businesses, fortified by the allocation of $8 million to establish the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman in this year's budget. The ombudsman delivers on our commitment to create a single entry point for small businesses to obtain information about services and programs available to them.

Through the ombudsman's advocacy, we will see compliance burdens reduced and red tape cut. Many small businesses can get on with the job of attending to their customers, creating local employment opportunities and building a sustainable profession. As part of its key responsibilities, the ombudsman will also be a concierge for dispute resolution and a Commonwealth-wide advocate for small businesses and family enterprises, a contributor to the development of laws and regulations favourable to the needs and requirements of small businesses and a single point through which assistance and information regarding small business can be accessed.

We also have established the Fair Work Ombudsman small business helpline which, as of September, has received over 129,000 calls. With this helpline providing support to small business owners to assist in improving their knowledge and operation of relevant legislation, this essential service provides our small businesses the confidence to grow, invest and create jobs.

Everything this government is doing and has planned for small business is about making every day easier. No-one would argue that business regulation is essential for ensuring the rights of employers, employees and the general public are protected. But business regulation that is inefficient or unnecessary, unfortunately, imposes undue costs on business. When we held this parliament's first ever red-tape repeal day, over 10,000 pieces, and 50,000 pages, of legislation were scrapped and $700 million in compliance costs were reduced. It is worth highlighting that the broader economic benefit will be much greater than this. Such action was deemed necessary because the former Labor government, within six years, introduced more than 21,000 additional regulations. Labor's actions stifled investment and job creation, and burdened small-business operators with excessive compliance costs and requirements.

Without doubt, the most scandalous act of economic vandalism was the introduction of the carbon tax. Thankfully the carbon tax is now gone. The carbon tax was a handbrake on the Australian economy, with Australia's small-businesses bearing the brunt of the impact. We have done what we said we would do. We are providing real assistance to small business. This government remains steadfast in our commitment to reducing red tape in order to drive a stronger economy where small business can thrive.

Small business is the backbone of the Dobell economy. Collectively it is our largest employer. For the 8,939 businesses in Dobell and over 68,000 businesses Australia-wide we will deliver a strong and prosperous economy where business operators have confidence to grow, invest and create jobs. Small businesses in Dobell rely on me, as their federal representative, to ensure that I am doing all that I can to demonstrate my support to their continued and viable presence. By doing so, regions such as the Central Coast will prosper under a stronger economy where everyone can get ahead. This motion acknowledges the practical help provided by the government to small-business workplaces to enhance the productivity of the Australian economy. I commend this motion to the House.

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