Ms BRODTMANN (Canberra) (10:33): I rise today in support of small businesses right across the country who have been doing it tough since this government was elected. That is why I find it absolutely galling that those opposite can claim to be the best friend of businesses when, as my colleagues have discussed today, business confidence has fallen over the course of this government, consumer confidence has fallen over the course of this government and unemployment has risen. That has had a huge impact on small businesses. A particular case is what has happened in my electorate of Canberra, which has been devastated, once again, by a coalition government. We saw it in 1996 when the Howard government came into office. What did they do to Canberra? They absolutely decimated it. It just underscores the coalition government's complete contempt for Canberra and their complete contempt for public servants, the servants of democracy that serve this government and that served the government then. What happened to Canberra in 1996? We saw 30,000 public servants right across the country lose their jobs. We saw 15,000 public servants here in Canberra lose their jobs. That had a huge knock-on effect on the local economy and also the capital regional economy. Business bankruptcies went up. Businesses closed down. Local shops closed down. People left town. We saw a reduction in the population here in Canberra, we saw unemployment go up and we saw personal bankruptcies go up. That was 1996. Fast forward to 2013, when this government was elected. What did we see? Again, a huge whack to small businesses in this town. Coalition governments have form on having a huge negative impact on Canberra. What have we seen since this government was elected? We have seen 8,500 public servants lose their jobs. Mr Ewen Jones interjecting— Ms BRODTMANN: As we saw in 1996, you cannot take 8,500 Public Service jobs away and expect to have zero effect on the economy. Since this government was elected, 8,500 Public Service jobs have gone, and we have seen small business confidence fall through the floor. I say to the member for Herbert there, as I say to many members both on this side of the aisle and on the other side of the aisle: go to Canberra businesses and actually have a conversation with them. Do not just order dinner or a glass of wine— Mr Ewen Jones: Beer! Ms BRODTMANN: have a chat with your mates and then head off. Actually have a conversation with the businessperson or the person who is serving you the curry at the Jewel of India, the Peking duck at Wild Duck or the sandwich when you arrive here on Sunday afternoon. Mr Ewen Jones interjecting— Ms BRODTMANN: Just have a conversation with those people, the people who are serving you and the people who own those businesses. You will hear from them that they have been doing it very tough since this government was elected. Either their profits and their business have plateaued or they have lost between 20 and 30 per cent of their business as a result of 8,500 public servants being lost. Mr Ewen Jones interjecting— Mr Tudge interjecting— Ms BRODTMANN: This is a huge impact on Canberra, on the capital region and on consumer and business confidence. Canberrans, knowing what coalition governments do to Canberra and to the Public Service when they get in, just shut their wallets or purses and stop spending. You have had a hugely negative impact on my electorate. The people of Canberra are not happy about this, and you just need to go and speak to small business owners when you are wandering around ordering your dinners or your sandwiches. Have a conversation with those people. I have had plenty of conversations with people through my business walkarounds. I used to have my own small business before I came into this life. I know what it is like to deal with the challenges of a small business. I know the risks that you need to take and I know the challenges. I know from my conversations in business walkarounds in Fyshwick—and I just remind the Prime Minister that Fyshwick is not in the electorate of Eden-Monaro—in Woden and in Tuggeranong that they are all doing it incredibly tough as a result of what this government has done to this town and to the Public Service—the people that serve Australia's democracy and this government and prepare the government's briefs and policies. You have complete contempt for Canberra, for the Public Service and, through that, for the small businesses and micro businesses that serve this town, this community and this region. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Broadbent ): For those observing the debate, I did not intervene in the robust discussion, because the member for Canberra can well look after herself. Debate adjourned.