Julian Simmonds (Ryan, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

The MPI today is indeed a matter of public importance because it has shown the stark difference between the Labor Party opposite and this coalition government. By talking down our economic recovery plan, delivered last night, Labor have shown Australians today that they are against building the economy so that we all get ahead; they are against providing incentives to businesses so they can recover, grow and employ more people; they are against job-creating incentives for our young people; and they are against Australians having lower taxes so they can keep more of what they earn. Labor are once again, both in the chamber today and in the Australian community, abandoning the workers of Australia.

Last night, the Treasurer released the 2020 federal budget and the Morrison government's economic recovery plan for Australia. The economic recovery plan is all about creating jobs, keeping Australians in jobs and supporting our local families. Only the Labor Party could be so blinded by ideological hatred that they don't see Australians are doing it tough because of the COVID recession. It is the most severe global economic crisis since the Great Depression. Across the world an equivalent of 600 million people have lost their jobs, and Australia is not immune from this. But Australia's health and economic response have been the envy of the world, and there are many aspects of this recovery plan, announced last night, from which our families can draw confidence for the future. JobKeeper, the cashflow boost and the JobSeeker safety net have all worked together to save 700,000 jobs. We could do this because, as a government, we entered this crisis in a position of economic strength with a budget that we brought back into balance for the first time in 11 years. Of course, the Australian people already knew this. They knew that, when they elected this government at the last election, under the leadership of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, we would be able to manage our economy to cover the case of shocks like this. And thank goodness they made that decision and that the Australian economy was not lumbered with Labor's $387 billion in extra taxes when we took on this crisis and the rebuilding projects that we need.

Last night, the Treasurer spoke about how this budget is a budget that reflects our values, and it does just that—the values of personal responsibility, reward for effort, the power of aspiration. We are guided by these values, and the Labor members opposite are guided only by their desire for new taxes. We will do as we have done before—grow our economy, create new jobs and get our economy back on track. We will do it by backing the private sector. We will provide them with the much-needed kickstart they need to do what they do best—create jobs. It's business that creates jobs and it's this budget and this government that are helping to create the opportunity for businesses to rebuild and to succeed.

The $4 billion JobMaker hiring credit will be payable for up to 12 months for each new job to employers who hire eligible employees aged 16 to 35. Treasury estimates that this will support around 450,000 jobs for young people. Our JobMaker Plan includes the establishment of the $1 billion JobTrainer Fund to create 340,000 jobs or low-cost training places for school leavers and jobseekers. Under this budget, 950,000 new jobs will be created by the government in the next four years—950,000! A job isn't just a pay cheque. It's security for your family, it's opportunity and it's independence. It's the ability to give your kids opportunities and make decisions for your family that will see them reach their full potential. Creating these jobs, creating these opportunities for our families, is the core purpose of this government, and nothing Labor says will sway us from this endeavour.

It is remarkable that the Labor opposition, who love their high-taxing, anti-business agenda so much, could stand in this place and not back a plan that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs for the Australian people and the Australian community. But, of course, they have form. They are doing just that in my state of Queensland, once the powerhouse state of our nation. Even before COVID, I saw Premier Palaszczuk and dodgy Jackie rack up the worst unemployment rate in the entire nation. Luckily, Queenslanders have a choice, in just 24 days time, to vote in the LNP and Deb Frecklington to do exactly what this government is doing, and that is to create jobs— (Time expired)

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