Gladys Liu (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It was around this time last year that the world was taken by storm, seemingly overnight. The global population was at serious risk of a terrifying new illness or, even worse, death. Many countries still live horrified at the possibility of being ravaged by this sickness. Across those countries, economies are grinding to a halt, shops are being boarded up and people are losing their jobs en masse.

The story in Australia is very different—like a cold, harsh winter ending and the light of spring bringing back new life. Australia has returned to a firm sense of normality. Through the stable and measured hands of the Morrison government, certainty was, and continues to be, provided to Australian workers and small businesses. It was the Morrison government's $251 billion of direct economic support that provided a crucial lifeline to help small businesses around the country retain their staff and apprentices, maintain their cash flow and reinvest in their businesses.

In my home state of Victoria, businesses and people faced even greater adversity than those in other states had to endure. The extended lockdowns decimated businesses in my electorate. Even in the face of the Victorian Labor government's assault on the Victorian economy, the Morrison government's precise and calculated economic support packages have managed to save many businesses in my electorate and in the state.

Just last month, I had the pleasure of visiting Twin Electrics & Plumbing, a business in my electorate that undertakes electrical work. They were showing me a new piece of equipment they had recently installed, thanks to a federal government grant they had received earlier. It wasn't easy for those guys, though. They were hit hard by the extended lockdowns we've experienced in the last year. Most of their staff were full time too. It was through the JobKeeper package the Morrison government designed that they were able to continue to work and to keep food on the table for their families. Now Twin Electrics & Plumbing are off JobKeeper, as of last December, and thriving as they move forward. This illustrates the success of the package. It was targeted and effective. Neither small businesses nor people were left behind in this government's plan. Also, job creation was central. We wanted people to have plenty of opportunities available. While talking to the team down at Twin Electrics & Plumbing, I found out that they have been able to utilise the Morrison government's apprenticeship scheme, which allows them to benefit from a 50 per cent wage subsidy for new trainees and apprentices, and soon they plan on bringing on an additional trainee to teach them the ropes of their business, which they will be able to do through the same scheme.

I would like to suggest that the Morrison government has provided economic certainty to Australian workers and small businesses from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and has not lapsed in doing so. We are providing a framework to ensure that Australia makes it through this crisis and is in a position of enviable strength on the global stage. The Morrison government will always look out for the best interests of all Australians, and we definitely are doing that for businesses and workers.

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