Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Well, let me just say again: the economy is much stronger than it would have been if the Labor Party had been in government over the last six years. Under our government, the economy has continued to grow, there are 1.4 million more Australians in jobs, we have a record participation rate and an equal record participation rate for women, and wages continue to grow above inflation.

What the Australian people understand but what the Labor Party clearly doesn't understand is that our economic policy agenda offers an even better opportunity for stronger growth into the future. They made a judgement. Labor's favoured higher-taxing agenda, anti-business, politics of envy and class warfare agenda would have made the country and economy weaker and would have made all Australians poorer. That is why the Australian people voted for us. It's time that the Labor Party reassessed its socialist agenda, as even Mr Butler is suggesting. Even Mr Butler is suggesting that they need to have a look at—(Time expired)