Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to comments, reported just before question time, by Stephen Jones, the member for Throsby, who is reportedly the Labor-Left faction convenor. In relation to the carbon tax he said:

It was unrealistic to expect that not one job will be lost.

Given that Paul Howes from the Australian Workers Union has said, 'If one job is gone our support is gone,' Treasurer, who is right: the member for Throsby or your mate Paul Howes?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the shadow Treasurer for that question about jobs. As I said in this House yesterday, nothing is more fundamental to those of us on this side of the House than supporting jobs. We know that it is possible to have a substantial reduction in carbon pollution and still have strong employment growth. We know that because all the credible analysis shows that that is the case: the credible analysis that has come through Stern, through Garnaut and through the Treasury. It tells us that we as a nation can make substantial reductions in carbon pollution and support strong employment outcomes.

I would have to go away and check the quote that the shadow Treasurer used, but I know that the member for Throsby is a very strong supporter of jobs, just like everybody behind me here. When jobs were threatened in the global recession we were there for Australians. Those opposite were not. I will never forget the then Leader of the Opposition saying that stimulus would not create a single job. But stimulus saved Australia and saved a whole lot of small businesses right around this country. We put in place investment.

What drives everybody on this side of the House is jobs. And what drives everybody on this side of the House is making sure we put in place the correct economic settings so that we are a competitive economy for the future. We on this side of the House understand the need to take the tough decisions to set us up for the future, to make sure we do generate the jobs for the future in a clean energy economy.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Higgins.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No first-world, first-grade economy can maintain that position without investing in clean energy. We on this side of the House understand that. We on this side of the House also understand that there will be a need for transitional assistance in energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries, and we have made that commitment very clear. But those on the other side of the House simply have a 'subsidise polluters' policy that will put up taxes for all Australians. They have no plans to either assist industry or to assist households. The hypocrisy of their coming into this House and pretending they care about jobs. I well remember the scare campaign that was waged by the shadow Treasurer—

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order: relevance, Mr Speaker.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is direct relevance, and the Treasurer will relate his material directly to the question.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a question about jobs. During the global financial crisis the shadow Treasurer said there would be 300,000 jobs lost in Australia. They went right around the country talking down our economy—

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Treasurer must directly relate.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

just as they are talking down our economy today. But because we on this side of the House understand the importance of jobs and because we understand the importance of future prosperity we will put in place the assistance for the types of industries that are affected.

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Higgins is now warned.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because we understand the importance of jobs. Those opposite do not understand the importance of jobs. They stood for Work Choices—less security for Australian workers. They do not stand for jobs. We on this side of the House stand here proudly supporting jobs, future prosperity and a clean energy future for the jobs of the future.