Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Longman for his question and note his strong commitment to small business, having worked extensively in that sector, and the fact that in his electorate more than 60,000 taxpayers will get a tax cut as a result of the tax package that passed the parliament with the support of this side of the House. And more than 13,000 small businesses will be able to access the extended instant asset write-off which we announced in the budget of this year.

The Australian economy is in its 29th consecutive year of economic growth. We face some major challenges, with the drought domestically and the global trade tensions which are like a dark cloud over the global economy. But we have maintained our AAA credit rating, we have brought welfare dependency down to a 30-year low and we have delivered the first balanced budget in 11 years. We have a balanced budget and will have a surplus budget in 2019-20, which will help build the resilience of the Australian economy, so that it gives us the fiscal flexibility to respond to external shocks whenever they may occur.

But the reason why our economy and our budget have remained strong is because of the employment growth, with over 300,000 jobs being created over the last year—a record number of Australians who are in work; a record number of women who are in work. Over the last three years, every single month, we have seen jobs growth. That is the first time that has occurred in recorded history, in terms of the Australian economy. Today there was a NAB small business survey—which looks at the business conditions for small business—which showed the biggest jump in small business conditions since 2013, for the September quarter.

I'm asked, 'Are there any alternative approaches?'

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