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

I thank Senator Bragg for the question. As Senator Ruston has articulated, it is employers that create jobs. Governments put in place policy frameworks that employers lever off. Certainly, the Morrison government is focused on putting in place those policies that will ensure Australian businesses are able to prosper, grow and create more jobs for Australians. In fact, from when the coalition was elected to office in 2013 to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy has now created in excess of 1.5 million new jobs. Last night's budget further demonstrated the Morrison government's commitment to getting Australians back in the workforce.

The Australian economy is now fighting back from COVID-19. In fact, in the last three months we've seen around 458,000 jobs created. As Senator Cormann has stated, the government is particularly focused on ensuring that young Australians, who've been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, are able to get back into the workforce.

Last night the Treasurer announced our $4 billion hiring credit. This will give employers who take on an eligible jobseeker aged between 16 and 35 an incentive of between $200 and $100 per week for 12 months. We anticipate that this hiring credit will help around 450,000 young Australians—young Australians who we want to get back into work. That is, of course, on top of the announcement we recently made of $1.2 billion to create an additional 100,000 new apprenticeships. Again, this announcement is all about doing what we can do as a government to ensure that we have the best policy framework in place to get Australians and, in particular, young Australians, back into work.