Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

A stronger economy is central to everything. The way we can afford to pay for the quality health care that Australians expect, the way we can afford to pay for the social welfare safety net that Australians expect and the way we can pay for our defence, for our border security, for our education and for all of the many essential services that Australians expect their Australian government to provide is on the back of a stronger economy. A stronger economy is central to everything, and what we've been able to achieve as a result of our plan is stronger revenue flows to government on the back of stronger growth—and do you know where it came from? Predominantly, from increases in personal income tax revenue as a result of 415,000 additional Australians in work. We have been able to help, since we came into government, 140,000 Australians off welfare and into a job. That means less expenditure on welfare. It means more revenue on personal income tax. And that is, of course, just one example. (Time expired)