Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Stephens for the question and her interest in Australian jobs, something those opposite seem not to be focused on. Australia has a growing economy, our net debt is less than a 10th of that of major advanced economies and our unemployment rate around half that of Europe. And this is a Labor government dedicated to ensuring that we support jobs and create jobs and that Australians have access to gainful employment.Those opposite might like to know that last month's employment figures, the labour force figures, showed the Australian economy created some 46,300 jobs in January and the unemployment rate fell slightly to 5.1 per cent. It was largest monthly increase in over 12 months, and this new jobs figure means that there are now more Australians in work, under this government, than at any time at the nation's history—something all of us can be proud of. It is an encouraging start to the year and a reminder that the Australian economy stands tall in the world, notwithstanding the efforts of those opposite to talk down the Australian economy and add to fear and anxiety because they always put their self-interest ahead of the national interest.

On this side of the chamber we are Labor people and jobs is our priority. We acted in the face of the worst global financial crisis in 80 years. We ensured we avoided recession. We saved hundreds of thousands of Australians from being on the unemployment scrapheap. Let us remember: had we taken the advice of those opposite, some 200,000 Australian families, some 200,000 people would be out of work. That would have been the position— (Time expired)