Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The shadow Treasurer, once again, stands up on the day that employment figures are out. You might think there would be a question based upon employment or the economy. Well, once again, no. He speaks about priorities, and what we have had. Well, I'll tell you what our priorities have been, which is what the question goes to.

The first priority of any Labor government will always be the creation of jobs, secure jobs. We're not halfway through our first term yet. More jobs created within our first half of our first term than any previous government has ever been responsible for the creation is something that we're very proud of—and, if you compare that, it was 3.6 per cent in September 2023. The participation rate is 66.7 per cent, just down from the highest ever rate, which was produced under us as well. The gender pay gap is 13 per cent, a record low. The number of women employed full time is 3.8 million, a record. Manufacturing jobs: 948,300. The long-term unemployment figures have been reduced by 30,000. Industrial disputes: from 128,000 in the last quarter, when they held office, down to 10,200. And, of course, inflation, which was the highest ever in any quarter in decades under them at 2.1 per cent the March quarter of 2022—the last figures were 0.8 per cent. Annual wage growth: 3.6 per cent compared with 2.4 per cent. Wholesale electricity prices were $264 under them and are now $63.

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