Dr WEBSTER (Mallee) (16:10): I will speak about this government's utter disregard for our farmers shortly, but I want to focus now on small businesses because the warning lights are flashing and the sirens are going off. Labor's attacks on small business have reached emergency levels. Over 29,000 companies have entered external administration for the first time in the last two years, and nearly 25 per cent of those companies are in construction. I thought that was important to this government. Accommodation and food service accounted for nearly 15 per cent. This equates to about 39 companies per day going into administration. While the Treasurer wants to tell us and his party what a magnificent job he's doing, the facts do not lie. I want to point out to those opposite that the figures I've just quoted are about people. They're about families. They're about communities. When a business closes its doors, it impacts many, who no longer can have a job and can no longer pay their mortgage or their rent or children's school fees.

New COSBOA research released today paints a sobering picture. The typical small-business revenue has been swallowed up by inflation—revenue, not profit, for those opposite that are business illiterate. Only around one in four owners are paying themselves more than they were a year ago. What are the other three quarters actually paying themselves? Those opposite like to go on about minimum wages. Is there a minimum wage for a small-business owner? No, there isn't. Around two in five small-business owners are working more hours, and one in four worked longer hours for no additional pay. It's little wonder business owners turned to AI after Labor's toxic taxes on trusts to depict their new business partner, the Prime Minister, demanding his cut of the business. All the while, the Albanese Labor government has presided over 16 interest rate rises since taking office, which again undermines business profitability through higher debt costs and makes supplies more expensive.

Those opposite appear to be utterly against business profit altogether, as though even one cent of profit is a bad thing. Of course, none of the Labor cabinet have small-business experience. Talk about a lack of diversity! Small-business owners have rapidly shrinking profits to draw a wage for their own labour in the business and that of their spouse, partner or other family members. Even if they take some wage from the business, can the small-business owner deliver some return on the family's investment and the risk they carry, like putting their savings or home on the line?

And now the Albanese Labor government is forcing small-business owners to absorb more costs. Nobody likes credit card surcharges, but abolishing the surcharge does not abolish the merchant fee. The Reserve Bank says small businesses tend to pay the highest card payment fees. Banning businesses imposing surcharges from 1 October is not immediately matched with the savings intended for small businesses—the quid pro quo, if you like, to reduce interchange fees and similar costs. Over 97 per cent of all Australian businesses are small businesses. There are over 2.6 million of them employing 5.1 million people and generating $600 billion in economic value. Small businesses are left with no choice but to raise prices.

This toxic, untruthful Albanese Labor government is adding insult to injury, at first defending the ATO's credit card payment ban, which would mean more costs brought forward for small businesses. Following the backlash, Labor has reached into taxpayer pockets to postpone that ATO policy bomb until 30 June 2027. They have the power to call it off for six months. That means they have the power to stop it altogether. Where is the Treasurer on this? Labor is starving small business to death.