Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle for his ongoing interest in supporting the small business people of Australia. The best way to support small business in this country is to have a strong economy and that is exactly what Labor is delivering. When you look at the international ratings across the board, all three ratings agencies, for the first time in this country's history, have given this country a AAA credit rating—something never achieved under the coalition in all their years under Prime Minister Howard.

Look at inflation: contained. Look at economic growth rate, with a three in front of it. It is something that economies across the globe are envious of. We are moving forward. We are growing. Other economies are going backwards. Some in Europe are on the verge of default. At the same time, look at the unemployment rate in this country: 5.1 per cent in January. Forty six thousand jobs were created. Since we came to office: 700,000 jobs have been created. This is the Australian economy that Labor provides and this is the greatest benefit to small business.

Everything this government has done has been about supporting small business. During the global recession we acted to support small business, protecting 200,000 jobs. The stimulus package was about small business and about infrastructure to allow small businesses—tradespeople, electricians, plumbers and apprentices—to keep in work. It worked. On the other side of the chamber the Liberal Party and National Party senators walked into this chamber and voted against small business. They voted against the stimulus package that kept people employed and the multiplier effects that kept small businesses operating during that period. That is the record of the Liberal Party of this country. (Time expired)