QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Dr ALY (Cowan—Minister for Small Business, Minister for International Development and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:01): I thank the member opposite for her question. I'm asked about small business, Mr Speaker. Last year, a record number of more than 385,000 new businesses were added to the economy—mostly small businesses.

And, in fact, 1.4 million companies have registered since we came into office. That's 35 per cent higher than under the previous government and two and a half times higher than under the Howard government. Insolvency, as a proportion, is around half what it averaged under the Howard government.

We've made the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent, giving some certainty to small businesses, and we've made the two-year loss carry-back permanent—both measures introduced by a Labor government, both measures wound back by coalition governments.