*Check against delivery* Your brand’s been with us for half a century – its trusted, it’s respected, it’s been part of the community that I’ve grown up in and so many across Australia and it’s not a surprise that 450 privately owned hardware businesses are competing in a very competitive space. I’ve touched on the…

Well it looks like a lot has changed. We’ve gone from worms to smiley faces to stern faces to sad faces and if its any comfort to you its not unusual that people vote in advance and judge their politicians before they say anything. You did say the Minister for Small Business should know something…

Terry talked about a nation that is open for business and that is very much the ethos the Abbott Government brings. But just hoping for that isn’t enough. There is actually a need to nurture and enable an environment that is encouraging and welcoming of enterprise, so that people who are prepared to mortgage their…

Mr BILLSON (Dunkley) (16:35): Madam Deputy Speaker, I am wondering if you can help me find this budget. We have had two speakers from Labor supposed to be talking about the government’s ability or otherwise to properly manage the budget, and it turns out it is like flared pants: it was out of fashion before…

It’s a pleasure to be with you this evening. May I begin by acknowledging you all and conveying my respect and admiration for the small business men and women that you represent through the organisations you’re involved with. I start with that point because of the serious concern I have at how poorly understood and…

Mr BILLSON (Dunkley) (15:07): The topic today is very important: the impact of increased taxes on small business. I remind the chamber of a great quote from a great leader Winston Churchill, who said, ‘For a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket trying to lift…