Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

As we know—the data is clear—there have been more businesses created under this government. I know you like to hand-pick and select your own statistics to try to paint the worst picture, but the reality is that more businesses have started, more jobs have been created, wages have got moving and we have looked at ways to support small business, including with energy bill costs, which you voted against but which you cited in your question there, Senator Canavan. What are we doing about energy costs? We're providing energy bill rebates for small business to help them with some of those increased costs. We are dealing with all of the issues, such as unfair contract terms. We're dealing with those. We've been trying to put forward—and we have—a significant small business agenda, and we will continue to do so, because we know that small businesses are the engine room of the economy and they have, as I said, been increasing in numbers since we came to government.