Andrew Gee (Calare, National Party, Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Barker for his question and for his very strong advocacy for country Australia. Only recently the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, representing our coalition, and many in this House today attended the memorial service for the late great Doug Anthony in Tweed Heads. As Doug himself once said, we want industry to boom again, to produce again and to employ again. That's what we on this side of the House want for country Australia.

We know that the Treasurer is really enjoying those good news job statistics at the moment, and why wouldn't he? Treasurer, I have for you today some more stats that have just been released that relate to country Australia. He does love the stats. The stats today reveal there are currently 56,510 regional job vacancies advertised online. This is the highest level since 2011. And the member for Barker will be particularly pleased to know that regional South Australia is at 4.8 per cent. Regional New South Wales is up 3.6 per cent, regional Queensland up 3.5 per cent and regional Victoria up 3.5 per cent as well. But, Treasurer, the good news does not stop here. I have more stats for you.

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