Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

We on this side of the House are proud of what we have done with an emissions trading scheme and carbon pricing—absolutely proud. In the time that carbon pricing has been operating, 150,000 jobs have been created in Australia. So you can come into this House, as you do, every day, every week, every month, every year and talk our economy down, but on this side of the House we will take the decisions for the future—the decisions to invest and to make sure that we have a fiscal policy which supports growth and jobs.

If those opposite had been in power when the last budget was brought down, we would have seen them bring in European style austerity policies. They would have taken an axe to spending, particularly in health and education. But they come into this House every day and say that we are spending too much, and they will not say where they are going to cut to the bone if they are elected.

They hide behind a commission of audit—the formula of Premier Newman in Queensland. That will not wash with the Australian people. On this side of the House, we will always support jobs and growth because we understand how important jobs are to the livelihood and living standards of all Australians. When the acid was on, where were those opposite? They went missing and the Leader of the Opposition missed five votes in this House—the critical votes which saved our economy from recession. They are simply unfit for high office.

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