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

What I am advised is that, based on the arrangements made in the 2009-10 budget, there was to be an extension of these arrangements for a limited period—from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2011. That is what was in the arrangements in the budget. Nothing has changed in that regard. The government takes the view that, as a result of the improvement in the economic conditions, particularly where we have a situation in which the unemployment rate is at five per cent—which compares favourably with the unemployment rate in the United States of nine per cent and that of Europe, where it is at 10 per cent—it is not necessary to extend that. Australia is economically faring so much better. That is a result of the sound economic management of this government, a result of the decisions that we took to spare this country from recession. (Time expired)