House debates Questions without Notice
Workplace Relations
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
1:59 pm
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. How much will small businesses have to pay to participate in multi-employer bargaining according to the specific modelling contained in the government's own regulatory impact statement?
Julie Collins Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business
2:00 pm
I thank the member for her question. I assume that she's referring to the regulatory impact statement that has been prepared for the bill. As she would know, small businesses already incur costs when they try and enter the bargaining system. She would also know, of course, that many small businesses are actually represented by an employer organisation—
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
How much is the figure?
Julie Collins Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business
and that reduces their costs.
Milton Dick Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.
Julie Collins Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business
What we know is that small businesses will be supported by the Fair Work Commission through the bargaining process.
Honourable members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! The minister will resume her seat. There is far too much noise. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition was heard in silence, and the minister will be heard in silence. I give the call to the deputy leader on a point of order.
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
A point of order on relevance. My question asked: how much, under the government's own regulatory impact statement, extra would small businesses have to pay?
Milton Dick Speaker
You may resume your seat. I will hear from the Leader of the House.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Mr Speaker, two points, one on the direct-relevance point of order that was just taken: the question that was just stated was a different phrasing to the question that was asked. Secondly, the immediate shouting while the minister is here, from the Leader of the Opposition, is just off the charts at the moment.
Honourable members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! There is far too much noise. I appreciate the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is entitled to make a point of order. You're not entitled to then add extra things into the question. The minister should be heard in silence. This is the first question. I'm asking the House to come to order. The minister is in order. She was referring directly to what she was asked about, and she's concluded her answer. I give the call to the Manager of Opposition Business.
Paul Fletcher Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy
I seek leave to table page 53 of the regulatory impact statement, which says that the cost to small businesses is $14,638 if they are dragged into this compulsory process.
Honourable members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! The Leader of the Nationals is not helping. I give the call to the Leader of the House. Is leave granted?
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Mr Speaker, he might not realise it's already a public document, so therefore it doesn't need to be tabled. Leave's not granted.
Milton Dick Speaker
The Manager will resume his seat. The Leader will resume his seat. The House will come to order so I can hear from the member for Macquarie.