Bill Shorten has ‘no clue’ on small business: PM

The PM says small businesses would be forced to “sack workers” if Bill Shorten passes laws increasing the minimum wage.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Picture: Kym Smith

Scott Morrison says Bill Shorten has “no empathy and no clue” about the pressures facing small business owners as he rails against the Labor leader’s plans to drive up the minimum wage.

The Prime Minister said small businesses would be forced to “sack workers” if the Opposition Leader passed laws that would force the Fair Work Commission drive up incomes for 2.3 million workers.

“I don’t know how sacking workers and reducing jobs is going to help the Australian economy,” Mr Morrison said in Melbourne this morning.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Liberal candidate for Chisholm Gladys Liu greet a worker during a visit to the Melbourne Markets. Picture: AAP

“The first people to be hit will be those who want the overtime hours, or the casuals, or the young people who are taking on jobs. They will be the first casualties of Bill Shorten’s policies when it comes to the cost he is going to put on small and family businesses.

“I don’t know where he thinks the money is going to rain down from, for them to meet these additional costs. It shows he has no empathy and no clue about the pressures facing small and family businesses. I understand it. That’s why I cut their taxes.”

Mr Morrison would not say whether the government would deliver income tax cuts at the upcoming budget.

“When we are making announcements on things in the budget that is when we will do it. I can always tell you my government is always for lower taxes,” he said.