Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is terrific news to hear that those on the other side know that there are other regions apart from Sydney and Melbourne—very exciting news! The Australian people, when we went to the last election—the one on 18 May, where they made a very clear decision—decided that they wanted no part of the economic management that was put forward by the Labor opposition. They made it very clear that they did not want hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes. They made it very clear that they did not want an economy based around unachievable renewable energy targets. They made it very clear that they did not want the economy smashed and jobs snatched from Australians by the opposition's plan. What they did want was a sensible, practical economic plan, which was presented by Morrison and this government. What they got is a government that has provided certainty and stability.

They got a government that does have a plan—a plan that was taken to the Australian people, a plan that was put forward in the budget earlier this year and a plan that foresaw that Australia did have challenges that it was going to face, and the government was steadfastly getting on with implementing that plan. The proof of that plan and that it is moving forward is the Australian people's acceptance and understanding that there are challenges ahead, and that we have just seen that the Australian economy has completed its 28th consecutive year of economic growth—a record that is unmatched by any other developed economy. The proof is on the scoreboard; we just have to look at those numbers to understand that this is an economy that has survived despite economic headwinds. It is a reminder that it is important that we continue to talk positively and support those businesses who are out employing Australians, who are providing real jobs, who are providing the taxes and who are providing the services that we so enjoy. It is important to talk up that resilience and to repudiate all of those who've sought to talk it down.

In the June quarter, real GDP grew by 0.5 per cent to be 1.4 per cent higher through the year. In year-average terms, real GDP grew by 1.9 per cent in 2018-19. It is slightly below the budget forecast of 2¼ per cent, but that is also in year-average terms. It is important that we remember that it is Australians who build the economy. It is Australian businesses that employ people. Labor lacks flexibility and lacks understanding of the risks that Australians make in operating these businesses and employing people. These Australians need to be recognised and need to be supported, and their decision to support the Morrison government is one that should not be disregarded. The Morrison government had a clear plan to take to the economy—one that we're delivering. As I said before, it is about certainty, it is about stability and it is about having a plan in the face of a challenging world environment, but one that we knew was coming, with a plan that we are clearly working towards.

This contrast is between a stable, united government getting on with the job with a clear plan delivering on promises that were made and a Labor Party that is conflicted on policy and tarnished by scandal. It's about certainty versus uncertainty—stability and predictability versus chaos and confusion. Labor just doesn't seem to know what it stands for or who's side they are on, which means you don't know what you'll get from one week to the next on tax, on the budget, on border protection, on union power and on work over welfare. Labor can't tell you what they believe or whose side they're on. There is no certainty and there is no consistency.