SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSIONER

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:49): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Minister, are you aware of any recent federal policy announcements that might impact on the Small Business Commissioner initiatives in this state?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:49): Yes, I am.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Madam Speaker, point of order. How is the minister responsible for a federal policy?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Davenport, order! The question was not about the minister being responsible; it was about how it would impact on South Australia—quite in order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I think he protests a bit too much—the feigned laughter, the feigned strain.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You don't want to disfigure yourself with all the interjecting. You don't want the face to move out of position. It's very expensive what you have done, you have to look after it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: He paid for that? He should get his money back.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes. The mullet has gone, though; it is very impressive. The Small Business Commissioner initiative—and I thank the member for Light, who I think is the father of franchise reform in the nation, a man who has fought long and hard for franchise reform. The initiative of the Small Business Commissioner is growing, and momentum continues to grow around the nation. Today our Prime Minister announced that the Commonwealth of Australia will have a small business commissioner. The federal commissioner will act as a one-stop shop for small business people, representing their concerns and interests directly to the government.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It will get better.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Small business owners will be able to access information, advice and referral to external services such as dispute resolution services. The Weatherill government strongly supports and welcomes this important announcement. I can inform the house that our Small Business Commissioner is very close to being appointed and our commissioner will work very closely with the federal commissioner to promote the rights and interests of small businesses.

There was another federal announcement last week by the federal shadow small business minister, the Hon. Bruce Billson. In a speech to the Council of Small Business of Australia—you might be familiar with this organisation—he strongly advocated the federal Liberal Party's desire for a small business commissioner style arrangement. He said:

The Ombudsman [or Commissioner] can also play a valuable role in supporting mediation and dispute resolution under existing mandatory codes where there is not confidence in the objectiveness and effectiveness of industry sponsored mediators.

Does this sound familiar? Because the South Australian Small Business Commissioner will 'mediate disputes where there is no confidence in the objectiveness of industry-sponsored mediators' and 'seeks resolutions under mandatory industry codes'. Other jurisdictions that have already established a commission, or are in the process of doing so, are the Liberal governments of New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria, as well as the governments of Queensland and Tasmania.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Madam Speaker—

The SPEAKER: Minister, can you just hold for a moment. Would members on my left be quiet; I cannot hear the minister, and he is usually very loud, so you must be making an incredible amount of noise. Minister.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: There are only two organisations left in the country that openly criticise the Small Business Commissioner reforms—only two: the Franchise Council of Australia, who support master franchisors, and the dark forces at work in the Liberal Party.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Coincidence? I think not. This has taken—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: This reform by the federal Liberal Party has taken the member for Norwood by surprise. He did not know their automotive policy, he did not know their defence policy and now he does not know their small business policy. Rather than grooming, I would start doing some research.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Norwood, pull your head in or you will leave again.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley. Remember, someone will be listening very carefully to your question.