Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Walsh for the supplementary question. Employment is up from 13½ million in May 2022 to 14½ million in July 2024. The participation rate is at a record high of 67.1 per cent, up from 66.3 per cent. The gender pay gap is down to a record low of 11½ per cent from 14.2 per cent. Full-time employment for women is up from 3.6 million to 3.9 million. Manufacturing jobs have risen from 834,600 to 905,700. Long-term unemployment has dropped. Industrial disputes have fallen sharply. Annual wage growth is up. Wholesale electricity prices have halved. Gas prices have dropped. Private business investment is up. Small businesses have grown. We've turned a $78 billion deficit into a $22.1 billion surplus and we've got another one to come.