Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to a recent briefing he and Minister Combet received from the government's Industry Update Unit, which reported that a near-record number of companies are struggling in the wake of the global financial crisis and poor economic recovery in the domestic economy.

Given that the cash splash in December 2009 yielded a net stimulus value of $1.50 per person to the economy for the $900 expended, that the accumulated deficit of the last four years now exceeds $150 billion and that the nation's debt exceeds $250 billion, can the minister enlighten the Senate on what strategies the government currently has in place to stimulate the domestic economy and to provide some hope to those 800-plus companies reported to be in financial trouble?