Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. In his electorate and in all honourable members' electorates we are seeing the benefit of strong economic growth in the December quarter—1.1 per cent and 2.4 per cent across the year. That now gives Australia faster economic growth than any of the G7 economies. This is a very good outcome for Australian families, for Australian business and for jobs. It underscores the strength and resilience of our economy.

We have also seen—and this is a very, very positive development—strong growth across sectors. There has been strong growth in agriculture, driven by a good harvest, yes, but also big export trade deals—the very export opportunities that are delivering growth in regional Australia and picking up from the downturn caused by the inevitable completion of the mining and construction boom. We are also seeing positive economic growth in Western Australia—of course the biggest mining state and the state which has faced the biggest transition. It is a tribute to the leadership of my government and the leadership of the Barnett government that you are seeing that strength in growth.

See this speech in context