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

The first point I would make to Senator Carr is that the measure of a government's commitment to science innovation is not measured by the number of public servants in a particular Public Service department. Let me tell you: if Senator Carr were really committed to science and innovation, what he would do is support our business tax cuts, reducing the business tax rate to 25 per cent, because the additional private investment it would generate would drive innovation across the Australian economy.

Nine out of 10 Australian workers work in a private sector business, of course, competing with the world. You should look at the spirit of enterprise and innovation across the private sector. The private sector is something far removed from Senator Carr's awareness. But do you know what? The private sector in Australia actually employs nine out of 10 working Australians. (Time expired)