Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

( I think Senator Bullock and I would at least share this: we believe that 780,000 Australians seeking employment is far too large a figure. The only figure that is acceptable to me and this government is zero, and we will continue to dedicate ourselves to create every employment opportunity that Australia has to offer. That includes signing up to the China free trade agreement—9,000 jobs per annum, year after year after year. There will be 178,000 jobs courtesy of the Chinese, Japanese and Korean free trade agreements. Yet the Labor Party stands in the way. If Labor do get elected, do you know what their proposal is to increase employment? They will introduce a carbon tax so we can have even more people unemployed! We are committed to growing the Australian economy and Australian jobs. (Time expired)