STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr BATT (Hinkler—Deputy Nationals Whip) (13:42): Time and time again we see this Labor government backing down and reversing decisions, so let's hope, for the sake of small businesses in Hinkler, they get on with fixing more of the mess that they've made. Even better, how about they don't go after small businesses in the first place? Hinkler business owner Dion told me over the weekend, 'It's disgraceful how small businesses are the target of any and all cash grabs.' Labor might have backed down and delayed the ATO ban on credit card payments, but now they need to go further.

It must be scrapped altogether; don't just put the pain on hold. And, while Labor is in rewind mode, the Treasurer must abandon his trust laws. Small and family businesses and farmers who use trusts want one thing from this government: certainty.

Send the legislation back for proper consultation and fix it before it becomes law, not after it blows up. The message from Hinkler is clear. I've held small business surveys and roundtable meetings.

Our hairdressers, cafe owners and butchers are all working hard, taking risks and investing, but, for them, all that is growing is a lack of confidence. The coalition will always back local first. Labor is doing all it can to break businesses with higher taxes, higher power bills and a botched credit card ban.

Let's get back to local first, backing small business not breaking it.