Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

This government's main priority has been securing job opportunities for Australia, be it throughout the global financial crisis or since then. The fundamental strength of our economy has been confirmed today with the job figures for September, which show the creation of another 20,000 new jobs—and resulting, pleasingly, in the unemployment rate dropping to 5.2 per cent. It is a really strong result at a time when the global economy is facing significant challenges and people's confidence has been shaken by recent events.

Moving to a clean energy future is all about continuing to create new jobs for Australians and attracting investment in clean energy technology industries. Under a carbon price, we expect to see 1.6 million new jobs created in Australia by 2020. As the economy transitions, new job opportunities will open up across Australia. There will be good, high-paid, high-skilled jobs as a result of that transition to a clean energy future. (Time expired)