Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is far more interesting and it goes to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the government's actions to build a stronger economy for Australia?

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

I thank the honourable member for his question and note that he is a fearsome advocate for good economic policy; he certainly is. The fact is we are doing everything we can to deliver policies that build a stronger economy and create more jobs, and that helps to build the prosperity of the nation. That is one of the reasons why, under us—the coalition government—this year, job creation in Australia has been running at roughly six times the speed that it was last year under the former minister for workplace relations and now Leader of the Opposition. He was there with 5,000 jobs a month; we are running nearly 30,000 new jobs a month in Australia. That is ultimately going to be an indicator of how strong the economy is.

The fact is, when you have a strong budget you have choices. You have to be able to build a strong economy to help build a stronger budget, to give yourself more choice to grow the economy again. Fundamentally we are about reducing overall government expenditure, so that Australia lives within its means, and delivering integrity in the taxation system. Of course, 'Labor and tax' is synonymous with failure. Why? Because every time the Labor Party touched the taxation system, it screwed up; it screwed up monumentally. Exhibit A: the mining tax, of which the member for Lilley is so proud. He was so proud of the mining tax he was on Q&A, I am told, last night saying it was a terrific tax; all we needed to do was to increase the amount of goods we sold and then we would have had rivers of gold.

Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Did you have a tough time at school, Joe?

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

The member for Moreton.

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

The fundamental fact is there was a 25 per cent increase in iron-ore exports in the June quarter year on year, and yet the mining tax raised 2½ cents for every Australian. That is a great tick!

And the carbon tax—what a great success that was! The member for Lilley did not even have the guts to go the announcement—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

The member for Sydney will desist.

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

of a major taxation policy that he did not want to be associated with. He was there in his office, peering through the wisteria into the prime ministerial courtyard, looking at Julia Gillard and the cohort of independents announcing a new tax he did not want to be associated with.

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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

The member for Moreton.

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

It gets worse. The Labor Party, on every single front, announces tax changes but never actually delivers. Not only are they opposing R&D tax changes which they announced as a crackdown on business, now they are opposed to the very same policy principle. The Labor Party is opposing, in total, $40 billion of savings that would help to fix their mess. Look at what Labor do, not what they say.