Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have three words for Australians and those opposite: coronavirus recovery plan. Not only do those opposite not know how to fill in a BAS statement but also they don't know how to plan their way through a twin crisis—a health crisis and an economic crisis. They wouldn't have any idea how to plan through that.

I want to talk about the economic recovery that the member for Rankin doesn't want to talk about, because the national accounts show that the Morrison government's economic recovery plan is working. Those on the other side don't want to hear that it's working. The member for Rankin just wants the Treasurer's job. Can you imagine if he were in charge of this country in the position we're currently facing? The good news is that in the December quarter Australia enjoyed economic growth of 3.1 per cent, significantly beating market expectations of 2.5 per cent. Who did that? That would be the Treasurer of our great country leading us through this pandemic and out the other side. That's two consecutive quarters of economic growth in Australia of more than three per cent.

For the first time in Australian recorded history we've had two quarters of economic growth of more than three per cent. That's quite an achievement, don't you think? At the moment, under duress, in the situation that this country's in, that is the result. I think that's extraordinary. Australians across our great nation think that's extraordinary. It is a long way from two negative quarters of growth, and we on this side of the chamber know that two negative quarters of growth equals recession.

An opposition member interjecting—

A member opposite said, 'Everyone knows that!' No, everybody doesn't know that. Those on the other side don't know that. They don't know how to fill out a BAS. They don't know the difficulties of small business across Australia. The Australian economy has recovered 85 per cent.

Opposition members interjecting—

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