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

The fact is—and I am sure that the Labor Party even might welcome this!—that export volumes through Port Hedland have now reached a record high. There was a record high in volumes of iron in the last month ore through Port Hedland, which is very good news because it means that whilst demand is growing out of China at a reduced price the fact is that our mines are still working and we are entirely competitive.

Despite the fact that we have had commodity prices fall, 32,000 more Western Australians are in work today than were two years ago when Labor left office—32,000. I can report to the House that across Australia, following the last have-a-go budget three months ago, 60,000 new jobs have been created—60,000 new jobs have been created in Australia in the last three months!

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