Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

Unlike those opposite, everything this government does is about restoring the economy to create jobs for our fellow Australians. Since our coming to office, over 330,000 jobs have been created. The job creation rate is more than four times the rate seen in the last year of Labor. Australia's jobs growth over the past year has been stronger than in the United States, stronger than in the United Kingdom, stronger than in Canada, stronger than in every other G7 nation.

Whilst we know we are doing better than others, we recognise that we need to do even more. That is why this government has signed up three landmark free trade agreements with China, Japan and Korea. These trade deals will create almost 9,000 jobs per year and create 178,000 jobs by the time all the agreements come into full force in 2035. This is visionary. This is wealth and job creating. This is providing a real, positive future for job seekers.

The government is also investing more than $50 billion in infrastructure, creating jobs during construction and of course long-term jobs as well. We are cutting red tape. We are giving small business the tax breaks they need to grow jobs. Gainful employment enhances a person's mental health, physical health, self-esteem and social interaction. Jobs turn people into financially self-reliant individuals who can shake off the shackles of welfare. Job creation is an untold social and economic good, and that is why we are so determined to create more jobs.