❓ Question criticises the Howard government's support for small businesses in WA, citing increased red tape and inaction on predatory pricing. The Minister's response echoes these concerns, leading to interruptions and a point of order regarding the reading of prepared material.
AnsweredQoN 571Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SMALL BUSINESS - HOWARD GOVERNMENT SUPPORT 571. Mrs J. HUGHES to the Minister for Small Business: The Prime Minister has claimed that Labor is bad for small business. What has the Howard government actually done to support small business in Western Australia? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Ms M.M. QUIRK
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
SMALL BUSINESS - HOWARD GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
The Prime Minister has claimed that Labor is bad for small business. What has the Howard government actually done to support small business in Western Australia? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
SMALL BUSINESS - HOWARD GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
The Prime Minister has claimed that Labor is bad for small business. What has the Howard government actually done to support small business in Western Australia? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
I thank the member for the question. The truth of the matter is that the small business sector is struggling under the current federal government. Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Mr T. Buswell : Can you define net profit? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : In particular, it is struggling under a range of time pressures that have been imposed by the federal government. More than half the respondents to the August MYOB Ltd survey indicated that red tape, including business activity statements and goods and services tax compliance requirements, had increased over the past three years, with around one-third of the businesses indicating that they had a lot more red tape compared with three years ago. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : This burden often falls - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Carine. Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : - on the partners of the 186 000 Western Australian small business operators. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands and the member for Roe to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : This time impost takes precious time away from families. The federal government must bear responsibility for making life more complex for time-poor small businesses. GST compliance, BAS statements and now WorkChoices have made life for small business operators so complex that they are having to waste time trying to make sense of it all. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Avon and the member for Carine to order. Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : That is time that small business operators could have been spending on growing their businesses and using for profitable activities, such as marketing and customer relations. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Stirling! Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : One very tangible indication of where the federal government has failed to deliver to small business is amendments to the Trade Practices Act. All states have lobbied the federal government, as have small businesses, for there to be changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing practices and unconscionable conduct. The federal government has been very reluctant over a number of years to bolster the Trade Practices Act to outlaw predatory pricing. Perhaps one might speculate that it is a case of the Howard government being afraid of upsetting its big-business friends. In the 11 years of the Howard government can small business operators really say that they are better off? Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : I refer to standing orders relating to the reading of material in this house. It is beyond me how the minister can have a written response, which she is reading out, to a question that by definition is without notice. I would ask, Mr Speaker, that you direct her to answer as she sees the question coming and not read out the answer. The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : It has been traditional in this place that people do not read material directly into Hansard . However, the usual practice in this place is that extensive notes can be used. Ministers are quite often briefed to an excessive level, but they are entitled to read from notes. While I am on my feet, I call the member for Stirling to order for the first time.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.