Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to point out the basis of the question that has been put forward. The accounts that were presented yesterday reflected the economic conditions that followed the shutdown of the Australian economy in March following the states' and territories' decision to shut down their borders and close down their economies, and yesterday our national accounts reflected that. I don't think there's anybody in this place that would disagree with the fact that the result that we saw yesterday reflected a devastating impact on the Australian economy and the lives and livelihoods of many in it. It has been suggested that opportunities are not starting to open up in our economy, when the jobs figures that were quoted a minute ago by the minister who has responsibility for employment, Senator Cash, say that jobs are coming back into the market. We as a government want people to realise that we are doing everything we can to make sure jobs are created. (Time expired)