Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Solomon for her question and I am sure that all members of this House, including members opposite, would say that the economy of this country is fundamentally strong. We have a fundamentally strong economy because we are a fundamentally strong and capable people. The challenge for government is to build on our strengths, and that is exactly what this government has been doing since September 2013. I am pleased to say that growth today is 25 per cent higher than it was in 2013. I am particularly proud of the fact that jobs growth is three times higher today than it was in 2013, and a quarter of a million new jobs have been created by Australian businesses since this government was elected in September 2013. Export volumes are up seven per cent in the last 12 months; housing approvals are up over 20 per cent in the last 12 months; and business and consumer confidence is above long-term average levels.

Our challenge is to build on this record. Our challenge is to build on last year's budget, which halves Labor's debt and deficit going forward. Madam Speaker, I can assure you and I can assure the people of Australia that this is a budget for them. This is a budget for confidence. It is a budget for middle Australia. It is a budget for fairness. It is our plan for jobs, growth and opportunity. It is our plan for a strong, safe and prosperous future. Above all else this budget will be measured, responsible and fair. There is a very significant tax cut for small business so that small business can do what it does best: go out and create jobs. There are significant incentives so that people can take the jobs that are available. There are better wage-subsidy arrangements, there are better employment services and, above all else, there is a Jobs for Families childcare package—because the more jobs there are, the more prosperity there will be for everyone. This is a budget that is designed to encourage the people of Australia to have a go—because that is what we do best; we have a go—to deal with our difficulties and to build on our strengths.

I want to thank the Treasurer, in his absence, for the work he has done on this budget. I thank all members of the Expenditure Review Committee. This is not simply a budget for a government; it is a budget for every Australian, to give all of us the prosperity that we all seek.

See this speech in context