Senator Joyce said today he was bemused by some commentators who stated the Birdsville Amendment, which protects small business from predatory pricing, did very little to assist small to medium enterprises and that its removal, returning them to their previous predicament, would somehow assist them.

“I look forward to commentators such as Mr Van Moulis, of Slater and Gordon, clearly providing examples of small businesses which have been unhappy and disaffected by the Birdsville Amendment.

“I know there is a range of big businesses, such as those Mr Van Moulis’ firm has represented in the past, which wish to remove the Birdsville Amendment so they can, once more, have open slather in regards predatory pricing to enable them remove small business competition from the market.

“The Birdsville Amendment has been one of the most well received amendments to trade practices law in a very long time and everybody, from butchers to chemists to green grocers, will vouch for this and I can get them to do so publicly if you wish. They would be fascinated to hear why one of their best protection mechanisms should be now under threat.”