Labor has proven it can’t even fool its own frontbench when it comes to its newfound passion for small business.
During Senate Question Time today, Senator Kate Lundy, representing the Minister for Small Business, stunned the chamber when she declared: “What we know is that this contrivance that somehow the carbon price is going to impact on small business is a complete furphy.”
Senator Lundy was responding to questioning from Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition Senator Scott Ryan about whether the Government understands that three quarters of small business people believe the carbon tax will have a negative impact on their business (source: Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
Since Julia Gillard first went back on her pledge not to introduce a carbon tax, small business peak bodies have been lining up to issue warnings on the damage the carbon tax will do to the sector. From the largest national organisation, in ACCI, to suburban chambers of commerce, small business groups have presented a united front to warn of the carbon price’s negative impact.
“Senator Lundy today revealed true Labor thinking. Despite touting its credentials over the past few days, the Gillard Government is no friend of small business. Senator Lundy’s admission is testament to how out of touch Labor is with the small business community.”
When the carbon tax is introduced on July 1, small business will be among the biggest losers. Small businesspeople will receive no direct compensation, yet they will be faced with rises in the costs of their inputs, in particular electricity, and consumers wary of any price rises.
“This Government can huff and puff on small business, but anyone who has any knowledge of the sector knows Labor just does not care,” Senator Ryan said. “The fact that a minister of this Government can put such a grotesque lie on the public record shows how little Labor really cares for a sector that employs 4.7 million Australians.”