Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Jobs and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Duniam for his question. Senator Duniam, like those of us on this side of the chamber, would know that the Turnbull government's budget continues the coalition's plan for a stronger economy that grows businesses and creates more jobs. It is a fact that, since we were elected in September 2013, in excess of one million new jobs have been created for Australians. That's one million new jobs created for Australians. That's a million more opportunities for aspirational Australian families.

Let's, colleagues, now compare this to the Labor Party. Labor's deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek, has today admitted, colleagues, that she doesn't even understand what the word 'aspiration' means. This is what Tanya Plibersek said to Sky News this morning:

Honestly, this 'aspiration' term—it mystifies me.

That explains a lot about Labor's job-destroying policies. I believe it was Paul Keating who, but a few years ago, said the Labor Party had lost its aspiration. Well, that's because the Labor Party never ever knew what the word actually meant.

On this side of the chamber, the term 'aspiration' does not mystify us. In fact, we positively embrace it. It is at the heart of everything we do. Australians, we are known in this country for our aspiration. Why? Because Australians want to get ahead. They want to get a job. They want to provide for their families. And they want to keep more of their own money by not paying as much tax. There's only one side of government that understands that, and that's the Turnbull government.