House debates Questions without Notice

Small Business

Tuesday, 27 September 2022 House of Representatives

Ross Vasta

Ross Vasta Bonner, Liberal Party

3:05 pm

My question is for the Minister for Small Business. Can the minister inform the House how much a typical small business electricity bill is and whether electricity bills are becoming more expensive for small businesses?

Julie Collins

Julie Collins Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business

I thank the member for his question. As I've said in this place before, we understand that small businesses across Australia have had a tough time. We know that they've had a tough time, and we know that energy bills are increasing. What we also know of course is that that side of the House didn't do anything about energy policy for more than a decade. We had a decade of denial and delay that caused energy prices to increase. We also had the former minister hiding energy price increases from small businesses right across the country, because they wouldn't tell small businesses before the election what their plans were for energy prices.

Ross Vasta

Ross Vasta Bonner, Liberal Party

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The first question was: can she inform us on the price of electricity for small businesses?

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

I would bring the minister back to the question. It was a specific question about how much an electricity bill is and energy prices becoming more expensive. I ask the minister to return to the question. She has had a preamble.

Julie Collins

Julie Collins Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business

We of course know that small businesses are facing challenges, and energy prices are one of them, which is why we are working with small businesses and are busy implementing our election commitments to small business.