Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House how the government is building a stronger economy, especially in Western Australia? What will this mean for jobs in Western Australia?

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

I really do thank the member the Durack for that question. Her electorate has been an engine room of Australian exports over the last few years. And despite the fact that we have faced very significant commodity price falls and despite the fact that there has been a drop in the iron ore price from around $120 a tonne to $50 a tonne—

Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The excuses are coming!

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

I remind the member for Charlton that he has been warned!

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

The fact is—and I am sure that the Labor Party even might welcome this!—that export volumes through Port Hedland have now reached a record high. There was a record high in volumes of iron in the last month ore through Port Hedland, which is very good news because it means that whilst demand is growing out of China at a reduced price the fact is that our mines are still working and we are entirely competitive.

Despite the fact that we have had commodity prices fall, 32,000 more Western Australians are in work today than were two years ago when Labor left office—32,000. I can report to the House that across Australia, following the last have-a-go budget three months ago, 60,000 new jobs have been created—60,000 new jobs have been created in Australia in the last three months!

Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's the unemployment rate, Joe?

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

That is good news, isn't it! And in the last three months after Labor's last budget, how many jobs were created under Wayne Swan? How many? 10,000?

Government members: No!

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

The Treasurer will refer to members by their correct titles.

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

Was it 5,000?

Government members: No!

2,000?

Government members: No!

1,000?

Government members: No!

It was 500 jobs! The member for Lilley must be incredibly proud of that—500 jobs. Only about 59,500 jobs short of what we have done in the last three months.

Mr Conroy interjecting—

But we want to do more. That is why we are absolutely committed to the free trade agreement with China, because we can get rid of the taxes on our businesses. We got rid of the carbon tax, we got rid of the mining tax, we got rid of the bank deposit tax and we got rid of the Labor Party's car-manufacturing tax that was killing the Australian industry. We get rid of Labor Party taxes and, under the free trade agreement with China, we are getting China to get rid of the taxes on the things we produce.

So they are abolishing a 10 per cent tariff—a tax—on our broccoli and a 25 per cent tax on watermelons. All of these businesses actually in the south—all these farms south of Perth—orange growers are going to have a 20 per cent Chinese tax abolished on their produce. Of course, for marmalade, which is a value-add example of food processing, the Chinese currently apply a 30 per cent tax on Australian marmalade. That is abolished under the free trade agreement. We are the only friends of job creation in Australia and in Western Australia.

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

Just before I call the member for Blaxland: I had asked the member for Charlton to cease interjecting. I warned him and I warned him a second time. He interjected continuously through the answer and he can leave under 94(a).

The member for Charlton then left the chamber.