Small Business Minister Nick Duigan’s performance in the Upper House yesterday was insulting to Tasmania’s small business community and not befitting a Minister of the Crown.
When asked a very important and very simple question from Murchison MLC Ruth Forest about the review of the King Island Dairy and the impact on small business in the state, Mr Duigan had mentally nodded off and had forgotten he was the Minister (to the amusement of Upper House members). (see video).
When he finally realised that he was the Minister for Small Business and the question was for him he had to approach advisers in the President’s reserve to ask them what the question was.
Once the chamber had stopped proceedings to allow him to ask what the question was he came back with the less-than-inspiring response that the government would take an interest in the matter.
The small businesses in the state, many of whom are family owned, deserve much better than this.
Small business is a key driver and the lifeblood of our local economy and everyone knows how difficult it is running a small business especially under this state government with increasing power prices.
This government now wants to make life even more difficult for small business by slugging them with a fire tax.
Mr Duigan got to be a Minister of the Crown in this chaotic, minority Liberal government because there was no-one else.
He needs to lift his game very quickly and show he is across his portfolios because so far, he most certainly hasn’t demonstrated that he is.
Janie Finlay MP
Shadow Minister for Small Business
