Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much. I think we're all just as clear as each other as to whether the bill is retrospective or not! COSBOA gave evidence that small businesses already spend an average of 15 hours per week on compliance. This is another layer of regulatory compliance for them. I take it that you note that nothing is changing, but clearly things do change, because we have a legislation being put before the parliament to protect something that, in our view, didn't require protection based on what you have articulated in relation to the Fair Work Commission's current powers. Can you explain to me why it was necessary to incorporate small businesses into this bill and why they have not been carved out?