Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

There's nothing wrong with a company making a profit. I want to be very clear about that. We want profitable businesses in Australia. The subsidy exists through the rules and structure of this program. It is based on the condition of the employment of a young Australian who was not previously employed in a role, the filling of a role that was not filled by somebody previously and the funding being there as a wage supplement to support an employment opportunity being created for a young Australian. It doesn't negate the fact that a company can go on and make a profit and pay dividends to shareholders, and dividends being paid supports many other Australians. In fact, they support virtually all Australians through the operation of the superannuation programs and many others who rely upon those sorts of dividends or other support.

Whilst, as I say, we certainly urge all Australian businesses to do their part in trying to help through the pandemic—and many have in the way in which they have helped maintain jobs at very difficult times during the course of this year—we also recognise that business needs to be profitable to survive in the long term. This is not intended as a profit subsidy, though, and that's why it is structured in the way it is—to support and underpin employment.