Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle for his question and note his interest in this matter. The Rudd government has taken early and decisive action to limit the impact of the global financial crisis on the Australian economy. While Australia is better placed than most economies, we have been absolutely clear about the fact that the global recession will impact upon jobs here. Yesterday Centrelink began delivering payments to Australians, as part of the Rudd government’s household stimulus package, providing an immediate stimulus to the economy and supporting Australian jobs. Almost 640,000 families, carers and young people with a disability have already received their payments and by the end of the week Centrelink will have delivered payments in the bank accounts of 1.25 million people. The key payments being made between 11 and 20 March are the $900 single-income family bonus and the $950 back-to-school bonus. The back-to-school bonus will provide carers and people with a disability under 19 years old with immediate financial relief for everyday living costs. These payments will support small business in every community around Australia.

There is no quick fix when you are facing a global recession but this government will do all it can to help support jobs and see Australians through the global financial crisis. Without these payments things would have even been tougher for small business. They would be under even more pressure to cut their staff hours or numbers. This is the only responsible way we can quickly boost consumption in order to immediately reduce this pressure to cut staff. These payments are of course not a substitute for other investments but they are the best way to support jobs. (Time expired)