Senate debates

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Questions without Notice

Employment

2:59 pm

Photo of Michaelia CashMichaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Rennick for what is a fantastic question to take us home on this Wednesday at question time. In the first instance, I acknowledge Mayor David Goode from the City of Gosnells in our home state of Western Australia, for the Western Australian senators. He is someone who has been self-employed his entire life and absolutely believes in the value of good economic policy. It is great to see you here today, Mayor David Goode.

The Morrison government's economic policies are seeing our economy rebound from what was a devastating 2020, with the COVID 19 pandemic. Just last month, in May, what we saw because of the economic policies we are putting in place was that the unemployment level in Australia fell to 5.1 per cent. That exceeded all market expectations. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because the businesses out there—the small businesses, medium businesses and large businesses—were able to lever off the policies that the Morrison government has put in place so as to prosper, grow and create more jobs for Australians. That is what we are now seeing. We now have around 130,000 more Australians in work than we did prior to when COVID-19 hit Australia. That is showing that the Morrison government's economic policy is working.

We also know that the recovery plan that we are putting in place is putting confidence into Australians, who are putting up their hands and saying, 'I'm ready, willing and able to work.' We saw also in the month of May that the participation rate increased by 0.3 per cent to 66.2 per cent. So what we're seeing is that unemployment is now down to the lowest level since 2014. There's still more work to do, but the policies that we are putting in place are having a positive effect on the economy.

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