Mr JOHNSON (2:37 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Small Business and Tourism. Would the minister advise Ryan small business owners of the importance of industrial relations reforms to all Australian small business. Are there any alternative policies?

FRAN BAILEY (Minister for Small Business and Tourism) —I thank the member for Ryan for his question and his obvious continued interest in this issue. Ninety per cent of all tourism businesses in this country are small businesses. They understand the need for industrial relations reform—in fact, they believe it is vitally important. The National Tourism Alliance represents over ninety per cent of all tourism industry operators representing businesses involved in accommodation, anything to do with airlines, car touring, retail travel agencies, any business tourism, the meetings industry, farm and country tourism, youth hostels, retail, adventure operators, the caravan and the camping industry, and restaurants and catering. So you can see that this is an organisation that represents the vast majority of all those small businesses operating in the tourism industry.

I think that we need to have a look at what Mr Col Hughes, who is the Chairman of the National Tourism Alliance, said. He said that he reaffirmed the tourism industry’s support for a continuing review of work practices that will deliver greater flexibility and greater productivity for both employees and employers in the tourism industry. He said, ‘The NTA will continue to work closely with the Howard Government to ensure the legislation takes shape, that domestic tourism and the overall tourism industry benefit from the creation of a more flexible work environment.’

Mr Chris Brown, whom many opposite would be well aware of, and who is the Managing Director of the Tourism and Transport Forum, said that the tourism industry believes ‘continuing reform of the labour market has the capacity to deliver greater competitiveness, job creation and productivity growth for the tourism sector. ‘The industry,’ he said, ‘will continue to work with government to develop labour market reforms that will generate growth in the Australian economy and in the tourism industry especially’.

Mr Beazley interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The Leader of the Opposition.

FRAN BAILEY —I am coming to the Leader of the Opposition’s comments. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that those in the tourist industry have taken great notice of what the Leader of the Opposition has said. To illustrate the sort of reform that the government is supporting and will ensure for small business, let us look at the example of a Lowenbrau chef who took five months leave and combined it with studying in Asia. His employer saw the value of this and the chef negotiated time without pay. The employer continued to pay his superannuation for the entire time he was away, and on his return the chef resumed full employment.

The Leader of the Opposition is on the record as saying that he believes that methods to promote flexibility in the work force and that encourage jobs growth should be strangled. Small businesses in the tourism industry know exactly what the Leader of the Opposition stands for.

Mr Howard —They would like to strangle him.

FRAN BAILEY —They would like to strangle him, Prime Minister. This government understands that one size does not fit all; it understands the value of flexibility. They know that the opposition does not, and they know exactly what the opposition stands for.

Ms Gillard —Mr Speaker, could I seek that the minister table the document from which she read every word.

The SPEAKER —Was the minister reading from a confidential document?

FRAN BAILEY —I didn’t read every word.