Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

As I have just said, this is a devastating day for Australia. The Australian economy has been savaged by the COVID-19 global pandemic and recession. It is delivering an awful and heartbreaking blow to Australians and their families all around the country. Australians know why we are in a COVID-19 recession, and they also knew, as the government has known, that this day would come. The government has acted to protect lives and livelihoods promptly, long before the numbers presented today, to suppress the virus and to cushion the heavy economic blow. More than a million Australians are out of work, but, as Treasury advises, without the actions taken by the government that number could be 700,000 more. We also know that we have avoided the even more severe impacts that we've seen in other places. But that is no comfort to the Australians who are dealing with a heavy blow today. It is no comfort to them that Australia, because of how we have responded, has been able to cushion the blow. The blow is still great.

As we have acted in this way, I know that that impact is still bitter and it is still real, and so we will continue to work, not just on cushioning that blow but on the road back and on the road beyond, to open up Australia, to ensure that we are not that dislocated nation. A dislocated nation is not success. That is a continued resignation to the virus. Australia will not resign to this virus, and our economy will not resign to this virus. What we will do is continue to believe in Australians and their resilience and their enterprise. We will make it easier for businesses to employ and to invest and to get Australians back into jobs, as the businesses of Australia lead the recovery, bringing the workers of Australia together with them as we go forward. Because of their effort, our government will ensure that they get the rewards of their effort. They will keep more of what they earn, and they can rest assured in the essential services that we will guarantee so they can rely on them. We will continue to be stronger and safer and together.

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