Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's pre-election promise to create one million jobs in five years. Given that the government has known about the potential job losses at Qantas for months, what is the government's plan to support 5,000 Qantas workers who found out they have lost their jobs today?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. It is a very serious topic. This is a difficult and anxious day for the workers at Qantas—a very difficult and anxious day for them—and it is a very troubling day for everyone who is following this news. I absolutely accept that. I do point out that there are services available to people who lose their jobs, including those at Qantas. I also point out that the fundamental job of government is to ensure that our economy is as strong as possible, and that means getting the fundamentals right. That means trying to ensure that taxes are as low as possible, that regulation is as low as possible, that the ordinary law of the land operates.

The last thing I am going to do today is to play politics or to try to make capital out of what is a very difficult day. But I am going to provide, as much as I can, hope and confidence to our country. I am going to state my conviction that the management of Qantas are doing their best to ensure that Qantas is stronger in the future than it has been in the recent past, and I am not going to get into the business of being critical of a company and a management which are doing their best to secure the future.

I want to remind the House that back in 2012, when Qantas announced that 500 jobs were to be lost, the then minister for workplace relations very truly and very correctly pointed out: 'These workers are highly trained and highly skilled. I am sure any prospective employer will get a bargain with these workers.' The minister for employment was right then.

Ms Owens interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Parramatta will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I grieve with the workers who are facing an uncertain future. But, just as the minister for employment in that government at that time was right then, I am right when I say that there will be better days ahead in a stronger economy when workers can get the jobs they need.