Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

What I can tell the senator in response to her question is that this government is absolutely committed—always has been, from the day that we became aware that we were faced with this absolutely enormous crisis before us, which became very evident in February—to working with the Australian public, with the Australian community. In fact, we are even working with the Australian federal opposition, and the oppositions and the governments in the states and territories around Australia, so that we can all work together and support all Australians through this crisis.

In doing so, one of the most important things that we can do as a government is to make sure that our economy is supported so that jobs are re-created, so that we can get people who are currently unemployed back into employment as quickly as possible. That's exactly what the focus of this government has been right the way through: supporting people during the time when there is unemployment but making sure that jobs are re-created so that they can get back to work as soon as possible.