QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:50): I would make the point that there are 2.7 million small businesses in Australia. The overwhelming majority of them— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator WONG: It is really interesting, isn't it, that the Liberal Party don't want to talk about small business.

I thought you were the champions of small business—and he's doing it again. Senator WONG: I have already explained to you that farming income is exempt from the changes which are introduced. But I would say about the political approach of those opposite—they are for the small minority of businesses who will be affected by this change, and they are against the millions of working Australians who will get a tax break.

That's the reality. That is the reality of the political position that those opposite are taking.