Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I can tell the House pretty simply where the Liberal and National parties stand: we want more people in work and we want them in work at higher wages consistent with low inflation and a growing Australian economy. Here is the evidence. Since this government was elected, there have been two million new jobs created in Australia. Since this government was elected real wages in Australia—that is, over and above inflation—have grown 19.8 per cent. But it was not always that way in Australia. When the Labor Party was in office not only did people lose their jobs but people lost wages. Now remember this fact: under the coalition, real wages have gone up 19.8 per cent; under the previous Labor government, when Labor was in office, real wages did not go up at all—real wages declined by 1.8 per cent. The shadow Treasurer, the honourable member for Swan, was asked about this recently—

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