Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The fact is that the national accounts figures today highlight that Australia is still enjoying solid economic growth despite the international challenges that the world economy is facing, despite the enormous pressures that are being brought to bear as a result of the financial crisis that has emerged from the United States and despite the fact that there has been a slowing in consumer confidence, particularly in retail, which has affected employment in the retail sector. Despite all of those factors, we are still enjoying solid growth in this country. This is a government committed to working through these challenges and ensuring that Australia comes out of them much stronger than it is at the moment.