❓ Ms Mettam questions the Minister for Small Business about the closure of small businesses and accuses the government's policies of harming the sector. The Minister deflects, questions the opposition's motives, and highlights government initiatives aimed at supporting small businesses.
AnsweredQoN 283Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SMALL BUSINESS —
STATISTICS
283. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Small Business:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that under the minister's watch, three employing businesses are
shutting their doors every day, when will his government finally accept that
his policies are destroying the small business sector, which is the lifeblood
of the state, and will he finally stand up for small businesses by publicly
rejecting Bill Shorten's high-cost, job-destroying policies?
STATISTICS
283. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Small Business:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that under the minister's watch, three employing businesses are
shutting their doors every day, when will his government finally accept that
his policies are destroying the small business sector, which is the lifeblood
of the state, and will he finally stand up for small businesses by publicly
rejecting Bill Shorten's high-cost, job-destroying policies?
AnswerView source ↗
The sycophantic response from the
opposition towards a government that looks in a bit of trouble is interesting.
It is embarrassing but interesting. Which policy have we initiated that is
making this impact that she claims?
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Nothing like
yours.
The SPEAKER : There is nothing
like nabbing the Treasurer to order for the first time.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I looked
across the chamber when I asked that question and someone's mouth was
not moving. A lot of other mouths were moving. I assume that they are
ventriloquists. What does that make the member? The member had no policy in
mind that we have initiated that has resulted in a bad outcome.
As I said, small business
is a tough gig. I admire and respect people who have the courage to do it, like
the member for Jandakot and the member for Pilbara. I think the member for
Kingsley was involved in small business as well. We have a lot of
members who were successful small business operators. I mention the member for Murray–Wellington as well.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, you
will get to the end of this answer please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I also
mention the member for Bicton. If I have overlooked anybody else, my apologies.
Sorry; the Minister for Housing, of course. So many members on this side of the
chamber have small business experience. We have great sympathy and empathy and
we are deeply motivated to assist the small business sector, like we did with
the biggest reforms to the Liquor Control Act 1988 that we passed last year.
Thousands of small businesses benefited from that. Thousands of small
businesses will also benefit from our negotiations around the sale of the TAB.
We are helping people. We are not implementing policies like three land tax
increases in three budgets. That would be an outrage.
opposition towards a government that looks in a bit of trouble is interesting.
It is embarrassing but interesting. Which policy have we initiated that is
making this impact that she claims?
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Nothing like
yours.
The SPEAKER : There is nothing
like nabbing the Treasurer to order for the first time.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I looked
across the chamber when I asked that question and someone's mouth was
not moving. A lot of other mouths were moving. I assume that they are
ventriloquists. What does that make the member? The member had no policy in
mind that we have initiated that has resulted in a bad outcome.
As I said, small business
is a tough gig. I admire and respect people who have the courage to do it, like
the member for Jandakot and the member for Pilbara. I think the member for
Kingsley was involved in small business as well. We have a lot of
members who were successful small business operators. I mention the member for Murray–Wellington as well.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, you
will get to the end of this answer please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I also
mention the member for Bicton. If I have overlooked anybody else, my apologies.
Sorry; the Minister for Housing, of course. So many members on this side of the
chamber have small business experience. We have great sympathy and empathy and
we are deeply motivated to assist the small business sector, like we did with
the biggest reforms to the Liquor Control Act 1988 that we passed last year.
Thousands of small businesses benefited from that. Thousands of small
businesses will also benefit from our negotiations around the sale of the TAB.
We are helping people. We are not implementing policies like three land tax
increases in three budgets. That would be an outrage.
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