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

Even for a socialist, that is twisted logic. People in shops will get their jobs back when consumers go back into those shops to buy products. That is how you get jobs back. Somehow he seems to think that by government edict you can sort of prop up these jobs and people. What, they sit on their chair? Clearly we want the economy to recover as strongly as possible. We want businesses to be back in business and successful and a profitable environment as soon as possible. We want businesses to have confidence to invest and hire more Australians. But it has got to be on the basis of genuine activity, not because the government somehow provides an edict that says 'this now shall be a job'. In a free market economy, there is a bit more to it. Our government is making sure we have the best possible policy settings in place to ensure that people all around Australia, including in Eden-Monaro, have the best possible opportunity to get back into work if they have lost their job and, indeed, to remain in work if they have a job. (Time expired)