Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

One of the big differences between those of us on this side of the chamber and those on the other side is that we understand, in particular, small business. The closest those on the other side have ever come to a business is to proudly close it down, and that is why they do not understand the implications of the Fair Work decision. Those on the other side are happy to support big unions and big business doing deals to trade away Sunday penalty rates, but they will not support a decision of the independent Fair Work Commission that seeks to level the playing field so that small business is able to compete with the big businesses who have cosied up to the unions. So let's pose a few questions, colleagues: is it fair that a family hardware store, mum and dad working hard, must pay more than $5 an hour more than Bunnings to open on a Sunday? Colleagues, is it fair that a family newsagency—we all know one—has to pay $7 more per hour on a Sunday than Officeworks? Is it fair that a family bottle shop must pay, if they can open on a Sunday, $7 more per hour than Dan Murphy's? And the list goes on. What about a boutique clothes shop? If a small business owner, who wants to offer some beautiful clothes, wants to open on a Sunday, they have got to pay $7 more per hour than David Jones. Then of course you have a family book shop, a beautiful old family bookshop—we have all been to them—and they have got to pay, if they can open on a Sunday, $8 more per hour than Target. That is not fair, and that is why we proudly stand up for small business on this side of the chamber. (Time expired)