Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

The facts speak for themselves—$270 billion, an ongoing pipeline of investment, creating wealth for Australia and, perhaps more importantly, creating real jobs for Australia. Let us think about these opportunities. Up at Gladstone, in the hinterland, there is a $55 billion investment under construction at the moment—12,000 jobs. We are proud of that achievement. Let us go to Gorgon, on Barrow Island—a $43 billion investment, with 4,000 jobs in construction. Think about the multiplier impact on the rest of the Australian economy—marine services, aviation, legal services, financial services, cleaning and catering.

The difference on this occasion is that we have got a pipeline of investment on an ongoing basis. The opposition, when it was last in government, merely spent a free kick from record commodity prices. Two opportunities—commodity prices and a pipeline of investment—and we achieved both. The Australian community is delighted at us spreading the benefits of this boom, not only in terms of what we are doing in infrastructure and skilling but also creating real long-lasting jobs. We are proud of it and it is about time the Leader of the Opposition was honest. He is very, very pleased with the setback with Olympic Dam yesterday.

Mr Hockey interjecting—

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