Page 2564 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 October 1992
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Mr Berry: Wide consultation - extensive.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Berry says, "Wide consultation - extensive"; yet just about every letter we receive says that they were not consulted. Who is telling the truth? The Motor Trades Association also said:
It is quite a different employment argument for a business employing over twenty staff as against one employing over ten.
Madam Speaker, there is a limit to the capacity of businesses to meet the ever-increasing costs of labour. Many have already reached that limit and no longer exist; they have gone out of business.
When will members in this Assembly, and in other parliaments throughout Australia, realise that to penalise small business for employing people will only result in unemployment? We already have the proof of this in gargantuan unemployment in the ACT and in Australia. Only when these matters are addressed will small business people be able to employ those in Canberra who currently are unemployed. It will not be done by governments creating employment. It will be done only by governments getting out of the area and letting small businesses create the employment. The Chief Minister said:
Our Government is committed to the nurturing of small businesses to get our young people into the workplace.
I suggest that the evidence clearly shows that this is the opposite way to go about it.
MRS CARNELL (4.57): I would like to address this issue - - -
Mr Berry: Which hat? As president of the Pharmacy Guild? Pharmacist? Small business or part-time job in the Assembly?
MRS CARNELL: Actually, I think I can wear both hats through this. I would very much like to wear both hats as the only person in this Assembly who has any experience whatsoever in this particular area.
Mr Connolly: Oh, no, Mr Westende - - -
MRS CARNELL: Mr Westende has a lot of experience in the bigger workplaces. We are today talking about smaller workplaces. So, whether you like it or not, this is the experience - - -
Mrs Grassby: You are not the only person, excuse me.
MRS CARNELL: Okay; you can speak next. We have to look at the actual workplaces we are talking about here. We are talking about workplaces with two or three people on the floor at any time. We are talking about retail shops. We are talking about milk bars, small grocery shops, 10 people on their - - -
Mr Lamont: Do you employ 10 people?
Mrs Grassby: No, of course she does not.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
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