Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

When I read today's MPI, I had to seriously question what document those opposite were actually reading. They seem to have picked up the ALP propaganda scare folder. It is quite obvious that they have not even read the coalition policy documents or, indeed, the budget papers, or are they away in their own parallel universe yet again? The alternate Labor universe is where they pretend that the carbon tax actually reduces greenhouse gas emissions and does not drive up the cost of living. The alternate Labor universe is where the cost of doing business as a result of the carbon tax and the 20,000 new pieces of regulation under Labor does not increase and, in fact, it means that small businesses are forced to cut staff, costing Australian jobs and contributing to the rising unemployment level. The alternate Labor universe is where changing the rules for employment services—thereby removing the financial incentive to find the unemployed a part-time job, even if they wanted one—does not in fact leave thousands of Australians jobless and the hospitality industry crying out for part-time casual staff. The alternate Labor universe is where those opposite remain blind to these facts: an average of 67 Australian manufacturing jobs were lost each day under Labor since 2008—that is one manufacturing job every 19 minutes on their watch; and in 2011 the member for Lilley promised, until he was blue in the face, to create 500,000 new jobs over the following two years, when in fact, two years later, Labor missed that target by more than 200,000 jobs. The alternate Labor universe saw unemployment rise to its highest level in 15 years.

How in this alternate Labor universe does cutting the Australian Defence Force Gap Year, the ADF's most successful recruiting program, improve training opportunities for young people? How does repealing the Green Corps program, which provided valuable vocational education opportunities, help job seekers and training opportunities for young people? How does abolishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission help job seekers, where malicious strike action with ulterior motives drives up the cost of doing business? The industry has been in decline over recent years due to Labor's policies pandering to the unions. How does suffocating a once-strong industry create employment opportunities and skills training for Australians? The answer is simple: it does not. The alternate Labor universe is some mythical, topsy-turvy world where they live far, far away from reality.

The member for Cunningham demonstrated that Labor is still living in this alternate universe when she talked about the government's decision to cease apprenticeship access. If she wants to talk about job outcomes, the access program was delivering a meagre 26 per cent job outcome under her watch despite spending more than $100 million on this program every year. We are about target outcome focused programs. Thankfully, on this side of the House we do not live in a state of chronic psychosis and blissful ignorance. No—on this side we are well and truly aware of the cold, hard facts about the state of unemployment and education left behind by the previous, Labor government. That is why we are determined to repeal the carbon tax and reduce the burden of red and green tape on individuals, businesses and organisations. That is why the coalition is deregulating universities, which will see opportunities for 80,000 additional places in sub-bachelor degrees such a diplomas, advanced diplomas and associate degrees. Commonwealth funding has been expanded to support people studying these courses. The coalition government has expanded Commonwealth funding for bachelor degrees to all registered higher education institutions, not just universities.

We have introduced the largest ever Commonwealth Scholarships Program, creating more opportunities for students with low socioeconomic backgrounds from regional areas to enter tertiary study. Apprentices will now be eligible for Trade Support Loans, helping with the cost of their training and the purchasing of the tools for their trade. Streamlining of the Industry Skills Fund and a commitment of $476 million will see 200,000 targeted training places over four years in areas of need. The coalition is boosting the number of older workers participating in the workforce through the Restart initiative. Businesses will receive up to $10,000 for employing workers older than 50.

These are just some of the initiatives the coalition government is taking to improve opportunities for job seekers and training opportunities for young Australians. We have a proud history on this side of the House of improving the job market, allowing businesses to do what they do best, boosting employment and seeing the next generation trained and educated to strive in an increasingly competitive market. It is time that Labor stopped their delusions of false accomplishment and let the coalition government get on with the job.

See this speech in context