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

I thank the member for his question. It's on the matter that went to the great uncertainty that arose in relation to the definition of casuals in the workplace that, if unresolved, could have seen job losses and loss of investment, and the loss of confidence in our economy at a time in the middle of the worst global recession we have seen since the Great Depression—a global recession 30 times worse than the global financial crisis. Uncertainty at any time, when it comes to these types of issues, needs to be addressed and needs to be resolved so that we can ensure that businesses invest and people get into work and people get into jobs.

Prior to entering into the pandemic, Australia had already achieved, since the government was first elected, some 1.5 million people coming into work. We knew that we went into the pandemic, and when we went into the pandemic some 900,000, or thereabouts, Australians lost their jobs and another 300,000—and, indeed, more—had their hours reduced to zero. But we now know, on the other side of the pandemic, there are more people in work today than there were before the pandemic. Certainty—

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