Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline how the government is boosting jobs and growth by encouraging investment in Australia? What are the threats to investment in Australia and how is the government responding?

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

I thank the honourable member for Barker for that question. He knows, as every other member on this side of the House knows, that you have to earn economic growth. You have to earn an environment that is conducive to job creation. Because we are rolling out our economic plan for the nation that includes removing taxes like the carbon tax and the mining tax; entering into new free trade agreements with China, Korea and Japan; getting the budget back to surplus and fixing up the mess left by Labor and, importantly getting rid of regulation, tens of thousands of pages of regulation, left behind by Labor that we have already abolished; providing incentives for the states to go through an asset recycling program so they can put more money into infrastructure; rolling out the biggest infrastructure program in Australia's history, as a result of what we did in last year's budget; and delivering the biggest small business package in Australia's history that is giving small business the opportunity to go out and have a go—as a result of these things—we are able to create an environment where 38,000 new jobs are created in just one month in Australia, the fastest rate of job growth in the developed world, and at the beginning of this year we had the fastest economic growth of any major developed nation in the world. It comes about because we are entirely consistent in delivering policy that facilitates growth. And nothing illustrates our position better than what I have just said, and nothing illustrates the Labor Party's position better than what has happened in the last 24 hours in relation to the Adani mine—because the Labor Party does not know whether it is Arthur or Martha in relation to the Adani mine. Yesterday the shadow minister for the environment, the National President of the Labor Party—someone very close to the Greens in that regard—said, 'For the life of me I can't see where the particular problem is,' with the challenge to the Adani mine. And today Gary Gray—we like Gary Gray—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will refer to members—

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

the shadow minister for resources—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is better.

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

the member for Brand, was asked on ABC's AM, 'Do you support the Carmichael mine?'—the Adani mine. He said, 'I do, yes.' 'Why is that?' 'Because the development of this resource, of this coal resource, is in our national interest.'

Government members interjecting—

Yes! Come over! Come over! You're one of us. Come over! He also said that the mine is 'in the interest of the communities affected'. He says it is actually very good for everyone involved. This is a project which is a good project which will bring good economic activity and it is eminently sensible. We agree. (Time expired)

Mr Danby interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Melbourne Ports.