House debates Questions without Notice
Workplace Relations
Russell Broadbent Monash, Liberal Party
3:02 pm
ENT () (): My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Can the minister confirm to the House that under Labor's extreme industrial relations changes small business such as a hardware store, a hairdresser, a cafe and a butcher could be compelled to bargain together with a large supermarket if they are located in the same shopping centre as that large supermarket?
Milton Dick Speaker
The question is clearly directed to the wrong minister. If the minister chooses to have someone supplement the answer, because it is not directed for her responsibilities, under the standing orders—I'm not ruling the question out of order, but I'll invite the minister to take the question.
Julie Collins Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business
3:03 pm
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the member opposite for his question. As I have said clearly in this place, more than two million businesses will be exempt from the single-interest stream that the member is referring to in terms of the industrial relations bill.
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting. The minister will be heard in silence, just as the member for Monash was heard in silence.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Answer the question!
Julie Collins Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business
I am answering the question, and I'll keep answering the question.
Milton Dick Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition is warned. I can't be clearer. When a minister is on her feet, within barely seconds into the answer, it is unacceptable, the yelling, the interjections. I give her the call.
Julie Collins Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business
And as I said earlier in the week in this place, there are other thresholds that need to be met, and one of those is of course that the Fair Work Commission would need to say that they have the same single interest, and that would not be the case in the example that the member actually refers to.