House debates Questions without Notice
Employment
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
2:46 pm
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his last answer, when he said it was important to get the facts right. I refer him to the fact that he stated that the current unemployment rate is 5.1 per cent. Would the Treasurer advise the House what the actual current unemployment rate is?
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
2:47 pm
Yes, I do think it is important and it is 5.4 per cent. I made a mistake, but the one thing I think we should all understand is this: keeping unemployment low and creating jobs requires strong economic growth, and everything this government has done has kept our economy strong and kept jobs growing; 5.4 is the envy of the world.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
Sit down, Wayne, you're finished!
Ms Anna Burke Speaker
The member for North Sydney might be finished in a moment!
Ms Julie Bishop interjecting—
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned.