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

Over the forward estimates, as Senator Marshall would be well aware, the unemployment rate is projected to go down to 5¼ per cent—5.25 per cent. He would be well aware that the government has made many decisions that precisely facilitate stronger growth and more jobs.

If we had kept Labor's anti-growth policies in place, like the mining tax, like the carbon tax, if we had taken Labor's anti-trade agenda onboard and if we had pursued Labor's push to increase the cost of electricity for business and families, the situation in terms of growth and jobs in Australia today would be worse. Jobs growth in Australia today is better than what it was in Labor's last year in government. We have turned that situation around that we inherited from the Labor Party. And, of course, if we implement the strong jobs and growth agenda in this budget, if we implement our Ten Year Enterprise Tax Plan in full, boosting investment and productivity, there would be more jobs. (Time expired)