Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President, and can I join the long queue of those congratulating you on your elevation to that status. I thank Senator Madigan for his question. I acknowledge his very longstanding interest in manufacturing not just in our home town but throughout the nation.

I understand that under the former government some 140,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2008—almost one in seven—which I know causes both of us great concern. The government is committed to setting in place the right infrastructure and economic conditions for manufacturing. It is a priority for the minister, as I know it will be a priority for you. In relation to the forecast for the financial year, I have been provided with the following advice from the Department of Employment: a projection from 2013 to 2018 by industry indicates that employment in the manufacturing sector will decrease from 934,100 persons to 893,000 persons in 2018, reflecting global trends and a move from traditional industries. This is a decrease of 4.3 per cent over five years, or a decrease of 0.86 per cent per year. This would give us an estimated employment projection of approximately 917,000 in 2015. As the senator knows, we are undergoing a generational transition. Through you, Mr President, I will say to Senator Madigan that today, we have the opportunity to remove the millstone around the industry's neck, which of course is the carbon tax. (Time expired)