Deborah O'Neill (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the government acting to keep the economy strong, undertake reforms in the national interest and ensure we extend the benefits of opportunity to all Australians?

Mr Ciobo interjecting—

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

The member for Moncrieff is warned. The Prime Minister now has the call and she will be heard in silence.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Robertson for her question. I know she is interested in the future of this country and in the future of her constituents and their ability to have opportunity and prosperity.

Mr Simpkins interjecting—

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

The member for Cowan is warned.

Mr Lyons interjecting—

The member for Bass is warned.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand that those from the opposition are not at all interested in these questions, but the member for Robertson rightly is. She asked me about the government's policies and plans to keep our economy strong. Mr Speaker, let me assure you and the House that there is nothing more important to this government than keeping the economy strong so Australians have the benefits and dignity of work.

To keep our economy strong in this phase of our economic development we need to bring the budget back to surplus, which is why the recent budget delivered the fastest fiscal consolidation in 40 years.

Mr Hockey interjecting—

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

The member for North Sydney.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am proud of that budget and proud of that achievement.

Mr Hockey interjecting—

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

The member for North Sydney.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It stands in stark contrast to the black holes and failure to account of those opposite.

Mr Hockey interjecting—

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

The member for North Sydney is warned.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you are going to keep your economy strong, you need to be able to address those problems that come from time to time—those things that Mother Nature throws at you. Our nation had a very difficult summer. To keep our economy strong for the long term, we need to rebuild. I am proud that we were able to work through to structure a progressive flood levy to fund the rebuilding. I am also pleased that we were able to find the tough cutbacks necessary to rebuild Queensland and the nation. We are making progress, with 6,600 kilometres of roads repaired, 411 affected schools reopened and significant commitments to the Bruce Highway and to the Warrego and Landsborough highways so that they can be rebuilt after the flooding.

In addition, the government is determined that the nation builds for the future. As Prime Minister, I am not going to put this nation's future in the too-hard basket. That means that we do have to step up and deal with the challenge of climate change by getting polluters to pay, and we will do that. It means that we have to roll out the technology of the future—the National Broadband Network—which is why I am pleased that we were able to commence development not only in Tasmania but on the mainland, and to achieve the microeconomic reform of the structural separation of Telstra, something that eluded the Howard government year after year.

We want to be investing in what Australian families need. Of course they need jobs, but they also need great quality education services. Along with our schools reforms, childcare reforms and university reforms, I am pleased we were able to deliver the $3 billion skills package in the recent budget. I am pleased that we have been able to strike a breakthrough health agreement to ensure that there are more doctors, more nurses, more local control and less waste. I am also pleased that we have been able to work with Australian families to slightly alleviate the cost-of-living pressures they face, with new money for families of teenagers and with school uniforms being added to the Education Tax Refund program to take a little bit of the pressure off.

As Prime Minister, I am determined that we will keep the economy strong and that we will keep spreading the benefits of opportunity and prosperity to Australians. We are driven by getting results for the Australian nation, unlike those opposite, who are always diverted by the politics and the cheap political stunts.