Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you again, Senator Stewart, for your prescient question. When we proposed the National Reconstruction Fund in March 2021, Labor said we were going to do this to rebuild secure work because we know a strong domestic manufacturing industry provides opportunities for Australians to make a meaningful high skilled contribution to our nation's future.

Nearly 85 per cent of jobs in manufacturing are full time, and it's a shame that the coalition didn't get this message. They were opposed to creating new jobs in their communities. They were opposed to local manufacturers, just like they were opposed to the car industry in this country. The only jobs they're ever interested in are jobs for their mates. With the passage of the National Reconstruction Fund, the Albanese Labor government will create jobs that communities can be built around, especially in regional, remote and outer suburban Australia. (Time expired)