Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Lindsay for her question. The government, since our election in 2013, has worked incredibly hard to put Australia in a more secure position, to ensure that we've addressed the structural balances that were needed in the budget to ensure that at a time like this, in a year like this, when we have dealt with bushfires and continue to do so, dealing with drought which has been ongoing for many years, and particularly now as we address the very serious issue of the coronavirus—a health crisis globally that has very significant impacts—we can stand before the Australian people with great confidence and say to them that while we are not immune, as this virus has now hit some 75 countries, we're as best prepared as any country can be. A key reason for that has been the careful financial stewardship of this nation's finances over the last six years. We have a health system that Australians can be confident in. We have borders that Australians can be confident in, and we've invested in the border management that enables us to respond to the issues we are currently facing swiftly. When it comes to the economy, we have done the same.

On the issue of this virus, we have got ahead early. We are working together with states and territories and others to ensure we stay ahead, and that, in particular, means working closely with the Reserve Bank. Earlier this week, as I said yesterday, the Treasurer and I and the finance minister hooked up with the Governor of the Reserve Bank and the deputy governor to ensure that we are completely aligned as we understand the economic impacts of this health crisis and that we respond accordingly. The bank, of course, will make its response, and the government is preparing its response.

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

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