Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

but the essence is that our export sector is performing well. I know that manufacturing was pointed out as an example, but today manufacturing is actually as profitable as it has ever been. There may well be frictional moves with the workforce moving from one sector to another, and manufacturing by number of people employed may have fallen, but the productivity and the performance of that sector have not.

The other claim from the other side is that mining and the terms of trade are the only reasons that we are still afloat. You cannot put all of this down to mining. There simply are not enough people employed in mining; mining is not a large enough portion of our economy to claim that everything rests on it. That has been echoed by a number of speakers.

Our rural performance is exceptional, given the drought conditions. Our exports of medications, of service goods and of education, which is now our fourth largest export, are unquestionably impressive. Of course, demand for capital and demand for consumer goods will always be strong while our economy runs well. That is one of the main reasons why our imports are also high. But I will tell you one thing: there is enormous confidence in the Australian government at the moment internationally. You only need to pick up an OECD report to see that. I tell you what: every time an OECD report examines the Australian economy and our performance, it speaks of Australia in glowing terms. That can never be forgotten. It is not forgotten by the ordinary family, who see it every day in rising wages and opportunities for their children, and it is seen right here in parliament in this debate. (Time expired)

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