Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment Participation) Share this | Hansard source

This particular forecast is advice we have received from Treasury. It is an important element of the response by government to this difficult global situation. In addition to that initiative, recently the Prime Minister and the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research announced the New Car Plan for a Greener Future. That is a $6.2 billion package over 13 years that will provide support for the automotive industry in this country. It will also ensure that there are new initiatives so we can see a reduction in carbon emissions, provide improved opportunities for our automotive industry and improve their opportunities in the marketplace. This initiative—again something the opposition seems to have two positions on—is a very important response to protect the 60,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect jobs in the automotive and automotive parts industry. Again this was a swift response by the government to protect jobs in this country. It is not coincidental that, subsequent to the government announcing this very important car plan, Ford announced that it will keep the Geelong plant and maintain employment there.

Last week, as the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government mentioned in question time today, there was the $300 million package for 565 councils across the country. This initiative will assist with small infrastructure projects. It will provide opportunities to create local jobs across the country. It is the third element of the government’s response to protecting and creating jobs in this country. Those three ideas are concrete proposals. We have heard nothing from the opposition on their position on this matter.

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