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

I thank Senator Molan for his question. As the Leader of the Government in the Senate has stated, Australia and Australians have shown great resilience in the face of COVID-19, which has caused a worldwide health and economic crisis. The labour force figures released today, for the month of May, were not unexpected. They continue to reflect the negative impact that COVID-19 is having on the labour market, but, in particular, because the survey period in which the labour force figures were taken was the first two weeks of May, they were actually taken in the situation where we had the height of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Whilst it is clear that the economic fallout from COVID-19 will continue for some time, the government has moved quickly to protect both the health and the jobs of all Australians and put in place substantial measures to help cushion the impact of COVID-19. While today's ABS figures highlight the devastating effects of COVID-19, it is important to note, as the Leader of the Government in the Senate has stated, that Australia did enter this crisis from a position of economic strength and record employment. Total employment in Australia now stands at 12.15 million. The unemployment rate today has risen to 7.1 per cent. Every single job loss as a result of COVID-19 is devastating, but what it does highlight, as Minister Cormann has stated, is the imperative to open up our economy. The states need to open their borders. That is what now needs to happen, and the Prime Minister has been very, very clear in this regard.