Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

He has snuck one additional question in. I refer the member for Boothby to the macroeconomic forecasts in the budget papers, which make it perfectly clear—and it is something that his party should reflect on—that the government’s economic stimulus endeavours are supporting employment. The difference is more than 200,000 jobs. The difference is a difference of 1½ per cent in the unemployment rate at what is predicted to be the peak of unemployment. That is very important in supporting Australians who want to work and in supporting their families. I think it is to be regretted that the Liberal Party did not see its way clear to support this economic stimulus and the jobs that it is supporting. I refer him to those macroeconomic forecasts.

On the Productivity Places Program, this program is working well. He knows that in fact it has been very, very strongly sought after. Indeed, so sought after has the program been that one of the common complaints I suspect he gets is from registered training organisations who want more places and rapid delivery. He would be aware that in this budget we are investing more than $5 billion in apprenticeships and related measures.

Proposed expenditure—$7,601,757—agreed to.

Debate (on motion by Ms Jackson) adjourned.

See this speech in context