Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to respond and take note of the questions asked by Labor that went to the issue of spending. I am very proud to stand here today and speak of the government's response, particularly this year, in dealing with the coronavirus challenge, the spending commitments that we have made to assist Australians in getting through the recession that was created by the coronavirus pandemic. We've seen the impact of programs like JobKeeper and how that came at the most appropriate and immediate time it was needed, at a time when businesses were worried about what they would do with their staff. They knew what impact it would have to their businesses if they let people go and, when trying to recover, not having that workforce with them to help build for their future. They were very concerned about what that would mean not only in dealing with the immediate issue but also, importantly, in how they would recover on the other side of that. The JobKeeper program has enabled many, many millions of Australians right across Australia to remain connected with their employer.

We've heard questions today about a program that has been there to support local businesses. This program really struck a chord with Australians because, particularly when they were in the real peak of the pandemic, when businesses were needing to shut and when people were being told to stay at home, Australians were looking for ways that they could support each other and support their local businesses and local shops. I have spoken to many people across Western Australia, my great home state, who are tradespeople and have actually seen their business go even better than before. That is remarkable. Western Australians have looked to take up opportunities to be able to do renovations on their homes. A good friend of mine, one of my best friends that I went to school with, is a plumber and his business is going better than it ever has before, he says. People are doing renovations on their homes. They are taking the opportunity to do work on their homes. This came about because of an attitude and a commitment by Australians and of Western Australians in particular in my great home state to look for opportunities to invest locally, to purchase locally and to support local businesses.

So this program, GO LOCAL FIRST, run by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, COSBOA, went to the very heart of that initiative. It tapped into the very spirit of what Australians were looking for and it has given Australians the opportunity to see where they can connect their dollars with local opportunities, to invest into local businesses by using their purchasing power to make decisions to support local businesses. This has happened because the government support initiatives like this, because we support business. We support local business. We support the intelligence of Australians to be able to know where to direct their funding, to be able to know where to direct their wages that they receive. Why is that? Because we as a government know that the best people in Australia to spend their money is their own selves. That's why we have brought in tax cuts. That's why we're providing more so people can keep more of the money that they earn. That is why these people are able to take advantage of these options.

The support that has been able to be given by the government is because we started at the beginning of this coronavirus pandemic and this challenge from a strong position. Our government is working from a position of economic strength and record employment. We were able to take action because we had worked hard in the past to bring the budget back into balance and maintain our AAA credit rating. That's why our spending has been prudent, that's why our spending has been sensible and that's why our spending has been able to target and hit the mark with Australians and businesses in ensuring that the opportunities are going where they are most needed to support those that need them the most.