❓ The WA parliament questioned the impact of federal government changes to the Trade Practices Act on small businesses' negotiating power, particularly regarding union representation. The Minister criticised the federal amendment restricting union involvement in collective bargaining for small businesses.
AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Is the minister aware of any moves by the federal government that could slash the negotiating power and viability of many Western Australian small businesses? Dr K.D. Hames : Does the government have a set number of questions to ask about the commonwealth government each day? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO
AnswerView source ↗
In a moment I will ask the member for Dawesville whether he supports the position of his federal colleagues. I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and for her interest in small business. The Dawson review of the Trade Practices Act, which is a very important and well reported review, recommended a number of changes to the act, including the introduction of a notification process and collective bargaining notification for small businesses. This is very important for small businesses such as owner-drivers in the transport industry and subcontractors who work in the building industry. The federal government accepted the recommendations. In 2004 the inquiry by the Senate Economic References and Legislation Committees into the effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act also examined this report and recommended the changes. Also in 2004 the federal government decided it would introduce the legislation to effect these changes, and it did. Unfortunately they lapsed because of the election, but in February 2005 the federal government reintroduced the legislation. Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Dr K.D. Hames : Does the government have a set number of questions to ask about the commonwealth government each day? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO replied: In a moment I will ask the member for Dawesville whether he supports the position of his federal colleagues. I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and for her interest in small business. The Dawson review of the Trade Practices Act, which is a very important and well reported review, recommended a number of changes to the act, including the introduction of a notification process and collective bargaining notification for small businesses. This is very important for small businesses such as owner-drivers in the transport industry and subcontractors who work in the building industry. The federal government accepted the recommendations. In 2004 the inquiry by the Senate Economic References and Legislation Committees into the effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act also examined this report and recommended the changes. Also in 2004 the federal government decided it would introduce the legislation to effect these changes, and it did. Unfortunately they lapsed because of the election, but in February 2005 the federal government reintroduced the legislation. Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO replied: In a moment I will ask the member for Dawesville whether he supports the position of his federal colleagues. I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and for her interest in small business. The Dawson review of the Trade Practices Act, which is a very important and well reported review, recommended a number of changes to the act, including the introduction of a notification process and collective bargaining notification for small businesses. This is very important for small businesses such as owner-drivers in the transport industry and subcontractors who work in the building industry. The federal government accepted the recommendations. In 2004 the inquiry by the Senate Economic References and Legislation Committees into the effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act also examined this report and recommended the changes. Also in 2004 the federal government decided it would introduce the legislation to effect these changes, and it did. Unfortunately they lapsed because of the election, but in February 2005 the federal government reintroduced the legislation. Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
In a moment I will ask the member for Dawesville whether he supports the position of his federal colleagues. I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and for her interest in small business. The Dawson review of the Trade Practices Act, which is a very important and well reported review, recommended a number of changes to the act, including the introduction of a notification process and collective bargaining notification for small businesses. This is very important for small businesses such as owner-drivers in the transport industry and subcontractors who work in the building industry. The federal government accepted the recommendations. In 2004 the inquiry by the Senate Economic References and Legislation Committees into the effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act also examined this report and recommended the changes. Also in 2004 the federal government decided it would introduce the legislation to effect these changes, and it did. Unfortunately they lapsed because of the election, but in February 2005 the federal government reintroduced the legislation. Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Dr K.D. Hames : Does the government have a set number of questions to ask about the commonwealth government each day? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO replied: In a moment I will ask the member for Dawesville whether he supports the position of his federal colleagues. I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and for her interest in small business. The Dawson review of the Trade Practices Act, which is a very important and well reported review, recommended a number of changes to the act, including the introduction of a notification process and collective bargaining notification for small businesses. This is very important for small businesses such as owner-drivers in the transport industry and subcontractors who work in the building industry. The federal government accepted the recommendations. In 2004 the inquiry by the Senate Economic References and Legislation Committees into the effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act also examined this report and recommended the changes. Also in 2004 the federal government decided it would introduce the legislation to effect these changes, and it did. Unfortunately they lapsed because of the election, but in February 2005 the federal government reintroduced the legislation. Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO replied: In a moment I will ask the member for Dawesville whether he supports the position of his federal colleagues. I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and for her interest in small business. The Dawson review of the Trade Practices Act, which is a very important and well reported review, recommended a number of changes to the act, including the introduction of a notification process and collective bargaining notification for small businesses. This is very important for small businesses such as owner-drivers in the transport industry and subcontractors who work in the building industry. The federal government accepted the recommendations. In 2004 the inquiry by the Senate Economic References and Legislation Committees into the effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act also examined this report and recommended the changes. Also in 2004 the federal government decided it would introduce the legislation to effect these changes, and it did. Unfortunately they lapsed because of the election, but in February 2005 the federal government reintroduced the legislation. Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
In a moment I will ask the member for Dawesville whether he supports the position of his federal colleagues. I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and for her interest in small business. The Dawson review of the Trade Practices Act, which is a very important and well reported review, recommended a number of changes to the act, including the introduction of a notification process and collective bargaining notification for small businesses. This is very important for small businesses such as owner-drivers in the transport industry and subcontractors who work in the building industry. The federal government accepted the recommendations. In 2004 the inquiry by the Senate Economic References and Legislation Committees into the effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act also examined this report and recommended the changes. Also in 2004 the federal government decided it would introduce the legislation to effect these changes, and it did. Unfortunately they lapsed because of the election, but in February 2005 the federal government reintroduced the legislation. Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Perhaps you should be in the front row. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Hillarys! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The member for Hillarys will keep until four o’clock. Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr R.F. Johnson : I will have you on toast for breakfast, sunshine. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : On 17 February 2005 the federal government introduced the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill. Members will not believe it. The federal government decided to change it. It introduced a clause in the amended legislation that had not been contemplated by anyone other than the Howard government. Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr M.J. Birney : Can you spice this up a bit; I’m getting bored? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : I will by the end of it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The federal government’s amendments included a provision that collective bargaining notification by small businesses would be invalid if the agreement was lodged on behalf of a small business by a trade union, an officer of a trade union or a person acting under the direction of a trade union. Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr M.J. Birney : What’s he talking about? Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is exactly right. The Leader of the Opposition would not know what I am talking about. This amendment to the Trade Practices Act was supposed to allow small businesses as a group to negotiate with big companies to get the best possible deal for small businesses. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr M.J. Birney : Is this going to take long? My coffee is getting cold. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : That is the exact attitude the Leader of the Opposition shows for small business in this state. He shows absolute contempt for small business. It is more important for him to have a cup of coffee than to listen to the plight of small business. I am glad that the member for Vasse is sitting very quietly behind the Leader of the Opposition, because he understands the importance of this. An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
An amendment was included in the legislation to allow small businesses to negotiate with large companies. The Howard government has argued from an illogical position. There is no other position from which it could effectively argue. The federal government has prohibited small businesses from using a trade union or a representative of a trade union to negotiate on behalf of a small business. This is absolutely unbelievable. These small businesses will now have to use expensive lawyers to negotiate their position. A number of owner-drivers were using the union movement to get the best possible deal on their behalf. It is up to the small businesses themselves to decide whether to choose to do that. Why does the federal government want to have a go at small businesses just to have a go at the trade unions? Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Does either the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Vasse, who is a small business man, support the federal government’s position of taking away from small businesses the opportunity to use whomever they like to represent them in their negotiations under the Trade Practices Act? Yes or no? Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr M.J. Birney : I can’t understand what the minister is on about. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : The Leader of the Opposition’s level of intelligence is not all that great. Does the member for Vasse want to make a comment? Does he support our position? Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr T.R. Buswell : Your problem is that you don’t know what you are talking about. How can we possibly make a position when you dribble on for five minutes? The fact is that you have no care for small business in this state. We know it and you know it. Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO : Why does the member not answer the question? Does he support the position of his federal colleagues? Yes or no? It is not difficult. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Therein lies the problem of encouraging interjections. That question is now finished.
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