Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's great to be here at this late hour on Friday afternoon and to be able to speak on a subject that I actually care really deeply about. I rise to speak on this general business debate on the motion put forward by Senator Siewert. Like with most debates brought forward by the Greens, I thank her for the opportunity to make this contribution, because there is nothing precedented about these challenging times. We are delivering for all Australians, so it's safe to say that I actually reject the premise of the motion and some of the comments made in this debate. Yet again, when Australians expect more of us in this place, when they expect us to be working together here to get through this challenge and deliver for them, those opposite continue to drive division.

As a government we've put in place the broadest possible support package, which touches every sector of the Australian economy and the individuals who participate in it. We're providing an unprecedented safety net for business and keeping Australians connected to their employer. For those who have been stood down there are a range of support measures that are available. We're ensuring Australian families can continue to pay the bills and continue to, as much as possible, carry on with their lives. These measures do not discriminate by industry; they are the most comprehensive support package that has ever been delivered by government, and the principles which underpin our economic response to the coronavirus challenge are sound.

Unlike those opposite when confronted with the GFC, we have avoided grand new schemes. We've avoided picking winners. We've seen and learned from the lessons of their mismanagement. The actions of those opposite when they were in government and in partnership with the Greens have provided the perfect textbook of what not to do when you're responding to an economic challenge, and we need to recognise that, both going into this challenge and coming out of it, the government has created an environment which has consistently seen job creation. It continued to drive investment and deliver better outcomes for all Australians. And we do this not by penalising industry for its existence as those opposite would have us do; we do this by ensuring that Australians keep more of their own money, whereas you would see that those opposite would rather see us fill up the government coffers. We do this by providing equality of opportunity where, again, those with an ideological disposition would see us do it without creating equality of outcome. This general business debate is meant to be about ensuring that no-one is left behind, but it is a perfect demonstration of picking winners, as they continue to do so.

Now, I don't come to this debate from a position of ideological blindness; I come to it from getting out there and speaking to Western Australian people, people in my home state who have been impacted by this coronavirus situation. I've seen some wonderful stories of how people are getting ahead, but I've also, of course, seen some really challenging tales. One business that I spoke to is actually doing quite well. They're a plumbing business, and because people are staying at home, they're recognising the areas of maintenance in their homes that need to be fixed, so this particular plumbing business is booming. It's amazing. But then you speak to others that, because of the particular nature of the work they do, are really struggling. But the safety net has been there for them and for their employees to ensure that those jobs can continue in the best possible way. I've seen great displays of innovation, ingenuity and reinvention. I've also seen examples of businesses and individuals that, through no fault of their own, have suffered.

Through my conversations and hours of Zoom meetings, I've listened to the impact of the government's economic response. One such business was Alba Edible Oils in Perth's southern suburbs. JobKeeper has had a significant impact on their business. When the coronavirus pandemic first hit, they were deeply worried about what it would mean for them and their employees. Their business is simple. They supply cooking oils to the hospitality industry across the country. They ship these oils right across the country and even overseas. Given that restaurants were closed, the demand simply was not there for their products. It's a classic demonstration of how the impacts of coronavirus have flowed through the supply chain of impacted industries, particularly those that are service focused. If those employees had been stood down, they would have lost that connection to their employer. That connection is critical because this is a unique business. Their operations are unique. There are not many businesses like this in the country, so they spend a lot of time, energy and resources on training their staff. Their staff, they say, are excellent at what they do. Many of them have been with that company for a very, very long time and have built great skills, delivering for that business and for themselves. Losing them because of the coronavirus challenge would have had a significant impact upon this business because of the effort in getting restarted. When restaurants and other businesses started to reopen, their ability to restart would have been significantly impacted if they had lost their staff. Getting them back may have been too difficult.

How I came to be connected with this business is relevant to this debate. They, along with a number of other businesses in Perth's southern suburbs that I visited, were a beneficiary of a Modernising Manufacturing Fund grant. They received $100,000 from the government to double the production of a number of their products. This meant that more jobs were supported and more and more export opportunities would be available to them. Another business just down the road, Beurtreaux, recently received quite a significant grant of $932,000 to integrate advanced technology into their manufacturing process. This company supplies seats for marine applications right around the world—for superferries and the Sydney ferries. In fact, they made most of the seats that are on the Transperth train system. It is an amazing company that uses advanced manufacturing. We're supporting Australia's manufacturing industry to ensure that businesses like this are able to use this period of the coronavirus challenge, when things are slow, to take advantage of the instant asset write-offs, other stimulus payments and other programs to enable them to build and establish themselves so that they can be stronger going forward. We're recognising that these businesses are important for our sovereign capability.

These are just two examples. If I had more time available to me, I'd be able to give you many more examples of businesses that have benefited from the support that the government has given them. You can look on my Facebook page if you're interested in seeing some of those. I've been visiting them and posting details of the work that they're doing. There are some fine examples of businesses that have taken the best possible advantage they can out of this coronavirus challenge. Many of them have been able to do that because of the JobKeeper program, which has kept their people connected to their business.

I've never been as proud as I am right now, sitting on this side of the chamber, having seen what the Morrison government has done. The Morrison government has delivered incredible leadership at this time. The actions of this government have demonstrated real leadership, which was so necessary and which is absolutely vital for us as we go forward. Not everything has been perfect. That's what you could expect when you're delivering a program on such a scale as JobKeeper, which needed to be developed in a very short space of time. From when it was announced through to when it was actually delivered, including the passage of the legislation, was a matter of weeks. What was able to be delivered is amazing. But there were some challenges. We've been working through them. We've implemented a review that's taking place right now, and there will be further things to say about it.

In those early days of the JobKeeper program, I, like many colleagues and others in this place, had the opportunity to provide feedback to various ministers that were working on the JobKeeper program with the expectations of the Australian public and the business community. This was when Australia was venturing into the unknown and the unpredictable in both an economic and a health sense. We really didn't know where this was all going. It's remarkable what Australians and, in particular, Western Australians, have done. What we've been able to do together as a state and as a nation in suppressing the health concern is quite remarkable.

But the circumstances have changed, and the government have continued to listen, respond and adapt in recognition of the rapidly changing environment that we've found ourselves in, and we will continue to do so. Our aims have been crystal clear. The priority has been to get the economy back on track and to get people back into work. It is our singular focus. It is the singular focus of our Prime Minister. We are singularly focused on creating the jobs that are necessary to get people off welfare and back into work. I acknowledge that, as part of this, people from different backgrounds and organisations, and who hold various philosophies and opinions, have come together with that singular aim. People have had to work together. Many of them wouldn't work together in the past but are now doing so. We are a better nation for it.

What we on this side of the chamber—and, indeed, some of those directly opposite—have done is use this crisis as a mechanism to ensure there's unity and to ensure that we can push ahead with what is needed for the Australian people. But, sadly, too many in this place use this situation to push an ideological barrow. I suggest that the Greens, in particular, need to take a lesson from this. This is a time to provide feedback, to work together and to be constructive. It's not a time for grievance and ideological blindness. We know we have much more to do. They would do well to work with us to find the support that is necessary for Australian people.

The same principles which have underpinned our economic strength entering into this challenge will support us out of it. We will continue with our job-creating agenda. We will continue to support our manufacturing industry, to open up new opportunities for them to create the sovereign capability that we need. We will continue with our investment in reliable and cost-effective sources of energy, whilst ensuring we uphold and exceed our international obligations. And we will continue to support people as they get people back to work, along with the businesses who employ them, irrespective of what industry they belong to. If it leads to a job, creates a job or is a job then we will back it.