STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr HAMILTON (Groom) (13:47): This week we've enjoyed the spectacle of the Minister for Small Business trying to compare the record of the Labor Party with that of the coalition when it comes to supporting small business. It has been a spectacle that's drawn a few laughs on this side, but I thought I'd help out this conversation and go through some of the highlights of the things that the coalition did for small business during our time.

We cut the small business company tax rate to 25 per cent. We on this side introduced and expanded the instant asset write-off. We established the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, specifically designed to help small business navigate through the extra regulatory burden that Labor governments love to put on them.

We extended unfair contract term protections to stop big businesses imposing unfair contracts on small businesses. We introduced a 50 per cent wage subsidy for new apprentices and trainees. Under Howard, we introduced the small business CGT exemptions that got small business going, back at a time when we needed that.

We have consistently cut red tape for small businesses. They're just some of the highlights of the things that we on this side have done for small business in Australia. I'm now going to run through just a couple of highlights.

Actually, do you know what? I'll just go with one highlight of this government's supports for small business. This year is the worst year ever for small-business insolvencies.

I'll put our record against theirs every day of the week.