❓ Mr. Hatton asks about government actions to assist small businesses in WA. The Minister responds by highlighting 'repeal week', payroll tax threshold increases, the Small Business Commissioner, and the regional small business awards.
AnsweredQoN 818Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SMALL
BUSINESS — RED TAPE REDUCTION — REPEAL WEEK
818. Mr C.D. HATTON to the
Minister for Small Business:
Small business makes a significant contribution to our state's
economy and the way we live our lives. Can the minister please inform the house
of some of the actions this government has taken in the past five years to
assist small business to operate in Western Australia?
BUSINESS — RED TAPE REDUCTION — REPEAL WEEK
818. Mr C.D. HATTON to the
Minister for Small Business:
Small business makes a significant contribution to our state's
economy and the way we live our lives. Can the minister please inform the house
of some of the actions this government has taken in the past five years to
assist small business to operate in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question and I acknowledge the
Premier's work in spearheading repeal week. In fact, I acknowledge you,
Mr Speaker, because from memory, you were one of the first people to flag the
idea of having a period in which we repeal obsolete and red tape legislation. I
am convinced that what the government is doing this week —
Ms M.M. Quirk : How
about mobile phones in prisons?
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, we have been
through the issue of mobile phones in prisons, thank you. I call you to order
for the second time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I
am convinced that repeal week will be welcomed by small business across Western
Australia. There are 211 000 small businesses registered across the state that
provide about 80 per cent of jobs for the people of Western Australia. Western
Australia is not really a resource-based economy; it is a small business–based
economy. I am proud to be part of a government that is doing everything it can
to help small business grow into bigger business. The government has
implemented a number of reforms. On top of that, it has introduced two new
bills to Parliament this week that will help reduce unnecessary red tape.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : In
repeal week, you are introducing bills.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
The Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2000 will ease
administrative burdens on the retail sector, the motor vehicle repair sector
and property industries. The Ports Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 will improve
port efficiency and the use of port infrastructure.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to
order for the first time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have undertaken to increase the payroll tax threshold
from the current $750 000 a year by $50 000 a year into the future. Over the
next four years it is expected to save more than 16 000 small businesses $121 million
in tax. On top of that, there has been an additional $250 million in tax relief
for small business over the last term of government.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
We have established the Small Business Commissioner, and part of that involves
the role of alternative dispute resolution. It is an awesome achievement in
trying to —
Ms M.M. Quirk : How
are you going for lease registers, minister?
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Every time the member for Girrawheen opens her mouth —
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Every time the member for Girrawheen opens her mouth, she reinforces my belief
about why the Labor Party believes in quotas.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time, member for
Armadale for the second time, member for Albany for the second time and member
for Willagee for the third time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : Alternative
dispute resolution is a brilliant achievement for small business to resolve
small business disputes without tying up the courts or burdening small business
with expensive legal fees. It is a brilliant result for small business, and it
has been well and truly utilised by business operators across Western
Australia.
On Friday night, the regional small business awards took
place here in Perth. It was wonderfully represented. Almost 500 people from
across regional Western Australia came together to celebrate and acknowledge
the brilliant achievements of small businesses across the length and breadth of
our great state. The winner was, of course, from the member for Albany's
electorate—the Great Southern Distilling company owned by Cameron Syme.
It is a wonderful achievement and it is great to see small business growing
into big business. We should all congratulate him on a job well done.
Premier's work in spearheading repeal week. In fact, I acknowledge you,
Mr Speaker, because from memory, you were one of the first people to flag the
idea of having a period in which we repeal obsolete and red tape legislation. I
am convinced that what the government is doing this week —
Ms M.M. Quirk : How
about mobile phones in prisons?
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, we have been
through the issue of mobile phones in prisons, thank you. I call you to order
for the second time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I
am convinced that repeal week will be welcomed by small business across Western
Australia. There are 211 000 small businesses registered across the state that
provide about 80 per cent of jobs for the people of Western Australia. Western
Australia is not really a resource-based economy; it is a small business–based
economy. I am proud to be part of a government that is doing everything it can
to help small business grow into bigger business. The government has
implemented a number of reforms. On top of that, it has introduced two new
bills to Parliament this week that will help reduce unnecessary red tape.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : In
repeal week, you are introducing bills.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
The Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2000 will ease
administrative burdens on the retail sector, the motor vehicle repair sector
and property industries. The Ports Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 will improve
port efficiency and the use of port infrastructure.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to
order for the first time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have undertaken to increase the payroll tax threshold
from the current $750 000 a year by $50 000 a year into the future. Over the
next four years it is expected to save more than 16 000 small businesses $121 million
in tax. On top of that, there has been an additional $250 million in tax relief
for small business over the last term of government.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
We have established the Small Business Commissioner, and part of that involves
the role of alternative dispute resolution. It is an awesome achievement in
trying to —
Ms M.M. Quirk : How
are you going for lease registers, minister?
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Every time the member for Girrawheen opens her mouth —
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Every time the member for Girrawheen opens her mouth, she reinforces my belief
about why the Labor Party believes in quotas.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time, member for
Armadale for the second time, member for Albany for the second time and member
for Willagee for the third time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : Alternative
dispute resolution is a brilliant achievement for small business to resolve
small business disputes without tying up the courts or burdening small business
with expensive legal fees. It is a brilliant result for small business, and it
has been well and truly utilised by business operators across Western
Australia.
On Friday night, the regional small business awards took
place here in Perth. It was wonderfully represented. Almost 500 people from
across regional Western Australia came together to celebrate and acknowledge
the brilliant achievements of small businesses across the length and breadth of
our great state. The winner was, of course, from the member for Albany's
electorate—the Great Southern Distilling company owned by Cameron Syme.
It is a wonderful achievement and it is great to see small business growing
into big business. We should all congratulate him on a job well done.
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