COMMITTEES

Mr VIOLI (Casey) (09:01): I move: That paragraph (7)(b) of the motion be amended to read: "(b) Opposition member as its deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee;" I commend the minister. This is an important committee. It's a good committee, particularly when we look at cybersecurity and the challenges that all businesses face—but we do know small businesses in particular are really vulnerable to cyberattack and they don't have the resources to protect themselves and invest.

So it's important that the government and this committee, in a bipartisan way, look at how we can protect small businesses and work with them. That's why we believe as an opposition that the deputy chair should be a member of the opposition, in particular given the fact that this committee is going to 2027. It is an opportunity to signal to the sector—small business and the cyber industry—that it has bipartisan support and parties of government want to work together to deliver better outcomes for industry.