Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The manufacturing sector is critical to the Australian economy and central to our plans for the future. It is great to see management and unions cooperating to avoid job losses by reducing working hours and bringing forward leave. It is great to see enlightened executives reducing their salaries. The government’s $3.8 billion business tax break helps manufacturers directly and gives all Australian firms an incentive to invest in products of manufacturing, including plant and equipment and car fleets. Our first home owners boost is driving demand not just, of course, for building supplies but for all the things people need to fit out a new home. Our historic commitment to build 20,000 new dwellings for social housing is doing the same. Our energy-efficient homes initiative is expanding the market for insulation. Our massive investments in road, in rail, in schools and in university infrastructure will boost demand— (Time expired)