Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bushby for that question. As a government, every single day we are focused on how we can ensure that we attract more investment to create more jobs and to strengthen our economy. Every day as a government we are focused on how we can ensure that we continue to successfully transition from resource investment driven growth to broader grounds of growth in a more diversified economy.

And the government is delivering results. When we came into government we inherited a weakening economy. Today, we are growing at a stronger three per cent. When we came into government we inherited rising unemployment. Today, employment growth is stronger and our unemployment rate, at 5.7 per cent, is well below what had previously been anticipated when Labor was in government. Only yesterday, the Senate supported a government proposal to save tens of thousands of jobs when the Senate voted in favour of Senator Cash's proposal to abolish the Labor and union attack on small business owner-operators in the trucking industry. What a great achievement that was by Senator Cash.

Across the board, the government, every single day, continues to implement its plan for stronger growth and more jobs. That is why we are working on making our tax system more jobs and growth friendly. That is why we are pursuing an ambitious deregulation agenda. It is to ensure we are as competitive and as innovative as possible. That is why we are pursuing a jobs and growth friendly innovation agenda. That is why we are pursuing an ambitious defence industry agenda. That is why we are pursuing an ambitious infrastructure agenda. That is why we are pursuing an ambitious free trade agenda, helping our exporting business get better access to key markets around the world. The Australian people know that this government is focused on stronger growth and more jobs.