Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

I think there are some figures here which are apposite. Since this government came to office, the Australian economy has grown 11.2 per cent. By contrast, Germany—the strong economy of Europe—is 2.7 per cent larger, the US is 1.8 per cent larger, Japan has contracted and the UK has contracted by 4.2 per cent. You can come in here, Senator, and talk down the economy all you like, but the facts speak for themselves.

In addition, since we came to office we have seen some 800,000 jobs created. Compare our unemployment rate with the unemployment rate in the eurozone, which is in excess of 11 per cent, or with the unemployment rate in the US. What those opposite cannot bear—and it says something about them—is the fact that the economy is growing, unemployment is lower—