George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

So, Senator Sterle, Western Australian jobs are part of the national jobs figures. The point I made yesterday and the point I would make to you again is that the rate of job creation under this government in 2016 is slightly more than four times greater than the rate of job creation under the last year of the Labor government. Rather than take it from me, Senator Sterle, perhaps you may have seen this morning, reported in the financial press, the monetary policy statement by the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Dr Philip Lowe. This is what Dr Philip Lowe, the Governor of the Reserve Bank, had to say about labour market conditions:

Labour market indicators continue to be mixed and there is considerable variation in employment outcomes across the country. The unemployment rate has moved a little higher recently, but growth in full-time employment turned positive late in 2016. The forward-looking indicators point to continued expansion in employment over the period ahead.

So the view that I expressed yesterday, coincidentally, was the same view as that expressed by the Governor of the Reserve Bank. (Time expired)