Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I congratulate Senator Sterle on that excellent question and commend the level of research that went into it to the opposition question time tactics team. We are indeed facing an unprecedented contraction in the global economy. The centrepiece of last night’s budget was nation building for recovery. This government is committed to supporting the jobs of today by building infrastructure Australia needs for tomorrow. As the Treasurer noted last night, the Rudd government has delivered a budget that is carefully crafted to create a solid foundation for future growth and position us to capitalise on the global recovery when it comes. At the core of this budget is the biggest plan for spending on nation-building infrastructure since the Snowy Mountains scheme. The budget is focused on stimulating productivity and supporting jobs, underpinned by investment in rail, road, port and broadband infrastructure that are the building blocks of the 21st century economy.

It builds on our education revolution, giving schools, universities and TAFEs the funds to provide training places that will ensure Australian workers are skilled up and ready when the recovery comes. The budget creates a historic system of paid parental leave, giving new parents the time to spend with their babies while retaining their links to their jobs and providing a massive boost to workforce participation and productivity. We are investing in world-class hospitals, research and innovation and giving our pensioners the fair go they deserve. (Time expired)