Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Lundy. Can the minister advise the Senate what the government is doing to support manufacturing jobs in Australia?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! When there is silence I will call the minister. The time for debating the issue is after question time; I remind honourable senators of that.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government believe in an Australia that makes things and we believe that Australian manufacturing workers are entitled to jobs that are both highly paid and highly skilled. That is why last week the Prime Minister announced that the government is investing $1 billion in a plan to support Australian businesses and to grow jobs. Our plan sets out a road map for creating these jobs, lifting productivity and boosting innovation. Whilst the opposition does not like to hear this—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Lundy, resume your seat. When there is silence we will proceed. The minister is entitled to be heard in silence. Minister, continue.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a positive plan that backs Australian firms to win more work on infrastructure and resource projects and it is a positive plan that supports innovation by establishing up to 10 precincts, bringing industry leaders, firms and research organisations together. It is a positive plan that will help small to medium sized businesses grow and create new opportunities and new local jobs. The first two precincts, in Melbourne and Adelaide, have already been announced and soon the government will introduce its Australian Jobs Bill into the parliament.

Compared to the negativity of those opposite, the difference is quite stark. All the coalition has delivered is relentless negativity, which is now being supported, unfortunately, by the Greens, and the Liberal and National parties are threatening the government’s jobs plans for their own cynical political purposes.

We believe, of course, that Australian workers deserve more, and that is why this Labor government is delivering for Australian workers: because Labor is the only party with a sincere commitment to jobs. It is why our $1 billion plan is focused on not only—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Lundy, just resume your seat. I remind senators that interjections are disorderly. Senator Lundy is entitled to be heard in silence.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I do understand those opposite have nothing positive to say about the creation of jobs or supporting this very important $1 billion plan. The creation of the precincts alone would bring together the best of Australia in terms of research, business—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Lundy, just resume your seat. I remind honourable senators on both sides. Senator Lundy, continue.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. In the 10 seconds I have remaining, I would like to reiterate the point that we have nothing but relentless negativity opposite. Labor has a vision for Australian jobs and industry, and it ought to give support— (Time expired)

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. As difficult as it was to hear over the rabble from the other side—

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

No, that is not called for.

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to ask the minister: what emerging threats are there to the manufacturing industry and the jobs of Australian workers?

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

I need silence on both sides. Questions should not be prefaced with a comment on either side.

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to ask the minister: what emerging threats are there to the manufacturing industry and the jobs of Australian workers?

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that with the high Australian dollar manufacturing in Australia has been under pressure, but last week another threat emerged to Australian workers: the rank opportunism and cynical politicking of the Australian Greens. Last Tuesday Senator Milne accused Labor of not being tough enough on big miners, and only two days later Senator Milne said the Greens would vote against—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Lundy, resume your seat. When there is silence we will proceed. Senator Lundy, continue.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. As I was saying, only two days later Senator Milne said the Greens would vote against reforms to a tax incentive that will largely affect big mining and resources companies. And why? Because they want to increase a tax on big mining and resource companies. So the Greens profess to oppose the mining industry, yet they say they will vote for measures such as a tax concession to research coal seam gas extraction and improve drilling techniques. Adding to their appalling approach to our plan, we have an opposition consistent in its relentless negativity to workers' jobs in this country. To Labor, nothing is more important than workers' jobs. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

When there is silence we will proceed. I remind honourable senators that the interjections are taking valuable question time.

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I would also like to ask the minister: how would the government's plan for Australian jobs help small business to become more competitive in a global economy?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

When there is silence we will proceed.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our plan will create opportunities for Australian small businesses to innovate, to grow and to create those new jobs. When combined with private sector contributions, a new $350 million investment in venture capital will deliver up to $700 million for entrepreneurial SMEs. The government will also invest $27.7 million in the Enterprise Solutions Program to assist SMEs to develop innovative solutions to public sector needs. This is a very important development to those who understand the relationship between small business and government procurement needs in Australia. The successful Enterprise Connect program will be expanded to SMEs in the professional services, ICT, transport and logistics sectors. In all, reforms to the R&D tax incentive will pay for a $1 billion investment in Australian jobs and small businesses, and the fact is that it is the Gillard government that is the only party that puts the interests of ordinary workers and their communities first.