Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I do thank the member for Bennelong for that question.

Opposition members: Mate!

Well, he is a mate. He is a mate, and he is a great mate of all Australians, because he was a—

Opposition members interjecting—

He is a great mate of all Australians—not only a great tennis player but a great bloke as well, I might add. He also understands what it means to employ people, because, like so many people on this side of the House, he has actually run his own business and employed people. We understand how challenging it can be for an employer to continue to get the money in, to continue to make a profit and, at the same time, to get on with the job of employing more Australians. So we welcome more good news about the performance of the Australian economy at the moment. Quite frankly, it is very pleasing that the Australian Securities Exchange 200 is at its highest levels in six years and property prices are at all-time highs.

But, of course, not everyone is participating in that good news. Not everyone gets the same opportunities, and it is vitally important, as we go down the path of delivering a plan for more economic growth, more jobs and greater opportunity, that we keep our eyes closely focused on the needs of small business and families, particularly to give them the opportunity to participate in prosperity.

But you have to start by understanding your facts about the economy. You have to get your facts right, haven't you, in order to understand how big the challenge is. I was quite interested watching the member for McMahon on Richo + Jones the other night, when he was asked about the facts. There is one thing about the facts: you can be excused for not knowing the facts.

Opposition members interjecting—

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