Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services) | Hansard source

Australian youth are leading the way in their grit and determination in the wake of COVID-19, and I thank young Australians right throughout this country for what they've been doing. In December alone, employment rose by 64,800 and most of this was youth employment. Youth unemployment has now dropped below 10 per cent, which was a personal goal of mine. It's fantastic that this has happened, and there is more work to do. I say to young people throughout Australia: we're with you, we're right behind you and there's a great opportunity right now to find work, with jobs and labour in high demand.

Youth are our future, and that's why this government will continue to invest in them. Think about skills and TAFE and everything that we're investing there. The Morrison government has invested some $7.1 billion this year alone in skills and training. We don't hear that from those opposite. We hear negativity, as usual. This is double what we were investing pre the pandemic—$7.1 billion this year alone in skills, training and TAFE. There are a record 220,000 apprentices in trade training—the highest number since records began in 1963. That's how the Australian government is taking decisive action and has set the stage for our economy to bounce back.

This is happening right across the country. Because of this, there are more people in work and we're able to invest in our local communities. In my own local community in Griffin, we're about to start the Henry Road upgrades. Moreton Bay Regional Council, along with $4 million from the Australian government, is about to upgrade Henry Road, and the people in Griffin know that this is much needed. We've also just pumped $200,000 into Osprey House, which is an environmental centre in Griffin in my electorate. That will enable major refurbishments this year. This great for the local environment. Previously we did a Green Army project down there, and we are seeing eucalypts planted six years ago now maturing for koalas. We've also made bird boxes and built a birdwatching hide down there. It's a great spot down near the water at Dohles Rocks. Get on down there. I and the member for Dickson have also invested in USC University, which is the only university now in the Moreton Bay region. We've upgraded the Bruce Highway, which is really important as well.

Tax relief is so important, and the Morrison government has legislated tax relief for Australians. This is really important. At the last election in 2019, there was an election commitment to reduce tax. Given what we've legislated for 2024, it means that we're going to see people, effectively, get a pay rise as that kicks in, because tax will be reduced from between 2½ per cent and 15 per cent for those earning between $45,000 and $200,000. That means more money in the bank for their own families. Whether you're single, whether you're double income with no kids as a couple, or whether you're a family with young children or you have teenagers—like me, with three sons aged 19, 17 and 15—this tax relief will help families make their home repayments, pay their energy bills and fill up their car. All this has happened under the Morrison government. We know that those opposite continue to want to raise taxes. You've just got to look at what they took to the last election. Don't believe that all those things have gone. Mark my words: they'll be bringing those things back.

What we're also seeing as we reduce tax is unemployment falling to 4.2 per cent—one of the lowest unemployment's rates in the nation's history. More people in jobs actually brings more tax into the Australian coffers, which means that we can invest in more suburbs like Bracken Ridge. In Bracken Ridge, we've recently upgraded Telegraph Road. We've installed night lighting for the Ridge Hills United Football Club, which is on the Bald Hills-Bracken Ridge border. We've just finished Hoyland Street; everyone in Bracken Ridge will know that it's gone from two lanes to four lanes, which is so important for that community down near the Brisbane City Council. We've upgraded Norris Road and Barbour Road; people will find that that small roundabout has now gone and that the signalised intersection is allowing traffic to flow. We've also done oval upgrades for St Joseph's, for the Parents and Friends Association. We've done funding for education and training at the Bracken Ridge Baptist Church, for new solar panels at the scout hall, and for the Bracken Ridge Kindergarten play space.

I could go on to talk about other suburbs, like Deception Bay, but I've run out of time. Know that the Australian government is behind you.

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