House debates Questions without Notice

Small Business

Thursday, 15 October 2026 House of Representatives

Andrew Hastie

Andrew Hastie Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability

2:59 pm

My question is to the minister for Small Business. Today the Daily Telegraph revealed the minister spent more than $150,000 travelling to nine countries in four months. Thirty businesses have gone bust every single day she's been overseas. Minister, when are you going to stop jetting around the world and start fighting for small business?

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

Order, members on my right!

Order! The Minister for Defence Personnel, the member for Maribyrnong and the Minister for Defence Industry will cease interjecting. When the House comes to—

The Prime Minister will cease interjecting.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Order! When the Prime Minister ceases, we will hear from the minister. There was far too much noise during that question. I wasn't happy with that level of noise. I want the minister to be heard in silence.

Anne Aly

Anne Aly Cowan, Australian Labor Party, Minister for International Development

3:00 pm

As the member is aware, I'm also the Minister for International Development, which is a portfolio within Foreign Affairs and Trade and which obviously has a requirement for me to travel internationally on behalf of our country.