Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Industry and Science. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting our manufacturing industry? How will Labor's tax cuts benefit Australian food manufacturing workers? Are the facts about the impact of the government's policy being disputed?

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bendigo, and I also want to note her keen and enduring interest in food manufacturing, particularly in regional Australia. Food manufacturing is the single biggest sector of Australian manufacturing, directly employing nearly 200,000 Australians and providing huge value-add to our agricultural sector. It's the economic and industrial lifeblood for many regional towns and outer suburban communities, and a vital part of our growing manufacturing sector that now employs more than 930,000 Australians.

Over 85,000 new jobs were added to the sector compared to when those opposite were last in government. Forty per cent of employees in food manufacturing are women, and we're supporting manufacturing workers by helping them to earn more across the manufacturing industry. Workers are earning $144 more per week on our watch, and Labor's tax cuts will mean the average food and beverage manufacturing worker will get a tax cut of $1,206. It's clear: earn more and keep more on this side; work longer for less on that side. That is the big difference.

I'm asked whether the facts about the impacts of what we are doing are being disputed and the answer is: absolutely, yes. We've seen the mindless obstructive negativity of those opposite. When we wanted to invest in manufacturing capability, they voted against the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund. When we want to shield manufacturers from the worst of the energy price rises, they vote against our energy price relief. They're only interested in talking about manufacturing if they can talk it down. Surprisingly, it's the Deputy Leader of the Opposition who wrote an op-ed in the Australian calling a manufacturing sector a 'graveyard' and also goes on to say—and it didn't stop—'littered with the bodies of once great companies claiming that the rate of insolvencies was higher than it's ever been'.

It's just a futile attempt because, when those claims have been examined independently, they're not supported by fact. It's not the only doozy. I still remember when the deputy leader said that there were no electric utes anywhere in the world and then that became awkward.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How's the nickel industry going, Ed?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will pause. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has been continually interjecting nonstop during question time and this answer. She is warned and the member for Hume is also warned. Nonstop interjections through every answer are just unacceptable. For the remainder of this answer, I don't want any more interjections. The minister has the call.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No claim too outrageous; nothing stands in the way. I don't know if George Costanza has been hired as a special strategic advisor—'It's not a lie if you believe it.' It's very much the case in terms of the deputy leader.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gippsland will leave the chamber under 94(a).

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australian manufacturing is alive and well. We're backing it and we would expect better from those opposite.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister just used an unparliamentary term, and he should withdraw it.

A government member: He's quoting Seinfeld. That was an interjection about nothing.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I didn't hear it. Was it an unparliamentary term? Was this the Seinfeld reference? To assist the House, I'll ask the minister to withdraw.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I absolutely withdraw. Thank you.