Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business) | Hansard source

I do understand their pause for thought on this. I would be taking pause for thought on this, because sitting behind every small business isn't just a number; it is, at the same time, a lost opportunity. It's people's livelihoods—their houses, investments, security, hopes and dreams—not just on the line but now falling off a cliff. It is a national tragedy.

Of course, as soon as I pointed out their silence, they were spirited back to life. They were spirited back to life because they wanted to defend their legacy, but their legacy is nothing but shameful. It is a disgrace to ever want to celebrate, as they seem to have just done, the decline of small businesses in this country, because sitting behind that are real people who have backed themselves and want to give economic opportunity for themselves, their family and, of course, the next generation of Australians. So many of those small-business people hold the assets that they need to thrive in their superannuation.

What we see now is the Treasurer coming with a tax that nobody voted for—the dead hand of the tax office after unrealised capital gains on people's family savings. And this family savings tax, which is directly attacking small businesses and, once on superannuation, will move over to other things like businesses and trusts, is coming after the Australian people. Even at his new summit, we know he's proposing new taxes that no-one else has voted for as well. (Time expired)

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