Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Sullivan for his question. Can I also acknowledge the work that Senator O'Sullivan has done prior to coming into this place—in particular, his dedication to getting people off welfare and into work. As Senator O'Sullivan stated, recently the Morrison government held a jobs fair in Mandurah in Western Australia. Jobs fairs have been held around Australia, and, to date, we've had in excess of 20,000 Australians come along and talk with local employers about opportunities for work. The Morrison government is committed to getting people off welfare and into work. The jobs fairs are a really practical way of making local connections. Local employers are able to come along to the jobs fair and advertise the local jobs that they have available. It's all about making face-to-face connections. Local people who are looking for work are able to come along, have a look at the jobs board, have a look at what's available and then go and talk to the specific employer who has the job advertised.

This is all about the Morrison government's commitment to ensuring that we are getting Australians off welfare and into work and ensuring that Australians understand where the local jobs are available. Since we were elected to government in 2013 the economy has created almost 1.5 million jobs. This is because those of us on the Morrison side of the chamber understand that governments don't create jobs; employers do. We put in place the policy framework. Under our policies employers are able to prosper, grow and create more jobs for Australians. Under this government we've achieved record participation rates, record full-time employment and record women participating in the workforce.