CORONAVIRUS — SMALL
BUSINESS — RELIEF MEASURES
521. Mrs
A.K. HAYDEN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Will the Premier admit that he has not supported our struggling small
businesses with a COVID-19 grant of up to $10 000 like every other state
government and Premier has done to ensure that the maximum number of small
businesses survive through the COVID-19 crisis? Every other state has provided
a $10 000 grant, but this state has not.
Several members interjected.
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
No-one can find any evidence of the
member's claim. The Liberal Party's position is that every
small business in Western Australia should be given $10 000 by the state
government. That is the Liberal Party's position. Does the opposition
know what that would do? What about all those businesses that are doing well?
What about bottle shops that are doing well? There are many others.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN: Please! The
member asked me the question. Can I answer it?
The Liberal Party's
proposition is bizarre. We can find no evidence that every state in Australia
is doing something similar. As I outlined to the member before, we cut payroll
tax, we gave nearly 100 000 businesses a $2 500 credit on their electricity and
anyone who is a tenant of the state government basically got six months'
rent free.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN: We not only
cut payroll tax, but also reimbursed payroll tax for businesses with a payroll
tax of up to $4 million.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN: Mr Speaker,
honestly!
The SPEAKER: Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr M. McGOWAN: Is the shadow
Treasurer's position that every business in the state should get $10 000?
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Bateman! That is the end of question time.