Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Can the minister outline to the Senate the importance of the $42 billion National Building and Jobs Plan announced yesterday to our ability to withstand the global recession?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Moore for that question. The Rudd government has taken decisive action with its $42 billion investment to support the economy and jobs. In the current economic climate there is an overwhelming case for the Nation Building and Jobs Plan. As I outlined yesterday, these are almost unprecedented economic times. There is a global recession and the outlook has deteriorated sharply in the last few months. We know that the IMF has cut its forecast for global growth three times in the last four months and is now forecasting a deep global recession. We know that, in all, six of Australia’s top 10 trading partners are now in recession. We know that the global recession has wiped $115 billion off government revenue and has imposed a deficit on the budget.

I am continually amazed that those opposite just do not quite yet understand how serious the economic emergency is, which must explain—it is the only rational and logical explanation—why they continue to play short-term political games rather than facing up to these challenges. Australia is better placed than most countries, but we cannot completely resist the pull of these international forces. That is why the Nation Building and Jobs Plan is so important. (Time expired)

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister outline the risk to the Australian economy if these measures are not passed or if they are delayed?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the conditions that we face, the government is taking the only responsible action to support growth and jobs in the face of the global recession. We had a choice of further spending from the temporary deficit or higher unemployment. We make no apologies for choosing to save Australian jobs and fight for Australian jobs. Those opposite will stand condemned. If only they had had the opportunity to wait another few hours before their shadow cabinet met, because one of their great criticisms is that it will not be spent. The retail figures for December that came out this morning blew a large hole in the argument of those opposite because what it showed was a major increase— (Time expired)

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the opposition’s decision to vote against this package contrasts with the approach being advocated in other parts of the world in the face of the global recession?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Every government, economic authority and expert around the world is urging decisive action to stimulate economic growth. The IMF supports payments to increase spending and stimulate the economy—no less than authority than the IMF. This demonstrates yet again how out of touch Mr Turnbull and those opposite are with the lives of Australian families, workers and the experts. Mr Turnbull should go to the schools around the country and explain to them why they do not need decent libraries, halls and refurbishments. Mr Turnbull should travel the country, because once again Mr Turnbull is putting his own self-interest ahead of the national interest. (Time expired)

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Constant interjection is disorderly, Senator Abetz, and it is very hard when one of your own is seeking the call and you are interjecting.

Alan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. The question is: given the government’s claim that it will support 90,000 jobs, how many jobs will the stimulus package actually create?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I thank Senator Eggleston for the question. The Rudd government has made it consistently clear that in these unprecedented economic times we will do whatever is necessary—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just resume your seat, Senator Conroy. There is debate going on across the chamber, which is disorderly. I need to hear the answer.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the face of a worsening global financial environment, and indeed the onset of a global recession, we have taken decisive action to support the Australian economy. We outlined the economic security plan before Christmas. We outlined a COAG package. We outlined a $6.1 billion long-term plan to assist the Australian automobile industry and associated component industries. The world economy is going into recession. This is driving Australians onto the unemployment queues. What this stimulus package is designed to do is to support and protect jobs and to try to ameliorate that. So let’s be clear about this: the economic illiteracy of those opposite—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is about protecting Australian jobs, supporting them and fighting for them. You are going to have to go home over the weekend—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite well know the cumulative impact of the measures taken by the government last year and this year will be delivered over time. The government has been absolutely upfront about the fact that the global recession will impact on growth and jobs here—absolutely upfront. That is why the government has taken decisive action: to limit the impact of the global recession on Australian jobs. The Nation Building and Jobs Plan will help support up to 90,000 jobs over the next two years. (Time expired)

Alan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Will the government release the Treasury modelling, as referred to by the Treasurer in a television interview this morning, which underpins this claim that the package will support 90,000 jobs?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As those opposite well know—and practised themselves—Senator Minchin many, many times and Senator Coonan before him consistently refused to release Treasury modelling. They consistently refused to release it. We on this side know there is no quick fix or silver bullet when you are facing a global recession. To come in here with simple short-term politics and display complete amnesia from just over 12 months ago, when you were on this side of the chamber, simply shows that these questions are designed to not face up to the challenges that we are currently embroiled in. (Time expired)

Alan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a second supplementary question. If it is the case that this package will support 90,000 jobs, will the minister confirm that each of these jobs will in fact cost taxpayers $230,000 per year?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is an absolutely absurd question. It has no sensible place, because those opposite know that there is no sensible calculation involved in deriving those numbers—none whatsoever. We will stand by the Treasury’s modelling on this ahead of Senator Abetz’s and Senator Minchin’s mickey mouse, back of the envelope projections. But what we will be watching for over the weekend, when you go back to your constituents, is for you to start telling them they cannot have the $600 or the $950, when you stand there and start saying to Australians, ‘Look, we’re sorry—short-term politics says we have to say no to this, but don’t you worry if you lose your job. We’ll be in there playing short-term politics,’ because that is what is going to be at stake here. When you vote on this, that is what is going to be at stake here. You are going to be putting Australians on the unemployment queue.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, I remind you that in addressing the chamber you should address the President and not the other side.