Thursday, 29 October 2026

House of Representatives

Mr Tim Wilson:

Once again, we have a problem where we have—I don't know what we call them these days, community Australia, strong community Australia, I think, or teal Independent MPs. Whatever they're called, once again they're betraying their small-business constituencies. We saw, in the last vote, the member for Curtin, the member for Wentworth, the member for Warringah and the member for Kooyong all betray their small business constituencies and vote with the Labor Party to separate out components of the bills that would actually give more protection to small businesses. We saw that in the last vote on the substantive issue. We saw—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Dr Garland): Member for Goldstein, I remind you to keep your comments to the details of the amendment rather than general debate, please.

Mr TIM WILSON: Thank you, Deputy Speaker Garland. Indeed, I am addressing the different components of the detailed amendments, because what we've seen is small business continually being portrayed as part of the substantive issue of this legislation. What we want is to see a pathway for this legislation to be defeated and, more importantly, for it to do as little harm as possible. Instead, what we've consistently seen from this government—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Goldstein, this isn't a policy debate. I would invite your comments on the detailed amendments, please.

Mr TIM WILSON: I'm offering them, which is a part of how it adopts them and changes the legislation or fails to change the legislation. It's a critical—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'm listening very carefully.

Mr TIM WILSON: We have a substantive piece of legislation—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I understand. Thank you so much.

Mr TIM WILSON: then we have an amendment to that substantive legislation. What I am saying is I would like to see a change to the legislation, so it becomes less damaging—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: We're asking you to comment on the member for Curtin's detailed amendments.

Mr TIM WILSON: Exactly! We have consistently supported changes to the legislation to minimise the—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: To the review that the member for Curtin is discussing, not the policy at large.

Mr TIM WILSON: Just to be clear, Deputy Speaker Garland, I'm allowed to make a contribution in this debate, and it's currently—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: To the detailed amendments.

Mr TIM WILSON: It seems to me that the chair is reflecting on the substantial nature of debate. We have a piece of legislation. We have an amendment. I am talking about the amendment—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: It needs to be on the details.

Mr TIM WILSON: And I'm talking specifically about the amendment, except for when I'm constantly interrupted—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the minister. Please take your seat, Member for Goldstein.

Mr Bowen: It's a simple matter of respect for the chair, Deputy Speaker. It is not appropriate for the honourable member to assert that you're reflecting. In fact, it's a reflection on the chair.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. Again, I invite the member for Goldstein to reflect on the detailed amendments as put forward by the member for Curtin.

Mr TIM WILSON: Once again, Deputy Speaker Garland, I am reflecting on the amendment, which is around a review. We support the proposition of a review, like we have sought to try and contain the damage of this legislation. But the problem we consistently have had is not just that this legislation does enormous damage; it's, again, that we have had individual members who claim to want to do the same thing not achieving that purpose. As a consequence, this legislation continues to do damage and will target and hit the small businesses of Australia. Even if there is a review—of course we would like there to be one—small businesses of this country are going to be hit by a 30 per cent minimum tax, in part because of the decisions of this Labor government and, of course, the crossbench members of this parliament.