Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the recent NAB monthly business survey, showing that business conditions have eroded sharply over recent months and are below the long-term average. I also refer to the Westpac consumer sentiment index, which remains 14 per cent below where it was at the election. Treasurer, isn't it the case that Australian businesses and consumers have voted no to the government's unfair budget, which has been bad for the economy?

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

No. Australia was pretty excited to get rid of a bad Labor government. That is one of the reasons why they were brimming with hope. And we have delivered—and it is hard work, but we are delivering. We were never going to turn it around on a dime, but I tell you what: all the trends are positive. Employment: do you remember, at the beginning of this year, the Leader of the Opposition was on his feet saying that all the jobs are going to go: 'All these car plants are going, all these jobs are going and aren't you guys the great wrecking ball of jobs'? One hundred and twenty-five thousand new jobs created this year!

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will desist!

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

Listen, mate. You were the last employment minister and you had a really bad record.

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

You're shocking, mate.

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

The Leader of the Opposition will desist! He will either desist or leave.

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

Fifteen thousand new jobs a month under this government. The second thing is: job advertisement numbers for September are at an 18-month high.

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

The member for Wakefield is warned!

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

Job advertisements are now 7.9 per cent higher over the past year, indicating that labour conditions are improving. According to the ANZ consumer confidence data released on 21 October—it is quite a volatile index—the four-week average is sitting above the monthly average since 1990. Let me say it again: consumer confidence, under a four-week average—from ANZ—is sitting above the monthly average since 1990. How about business expectations? Dun & Bradstreet's business expectations survey says:

Business owners are optimistic about seeing a jump in sales during the run-up to Christmas …

What about dwelling starts? Let us go to the ABS dwelling starts. Dwelling starts have lifted to 180,408 new dwellings over the 12-month period to June, which is the highest result in 19 years—the highest dwelling start construction activity in 19 years. Hang on; there's more! The more comes about because we are delivering the outcomes that Australians expected. One of the ways we did that was through getting rid of the carbon tax, which effectively reduced electricity prices by 5.1 per cent in the last quarter. What does that mean? That will flow through the economy. It is the first time—

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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

The member for Moreton is warned.

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

there has been a reduction in electricity prices since records were first kept. These are the building blocks for a stronger Australian economy; only the coalition can deliver.