Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bragg for his question—indeed, he's a passionate advocate for investment in our economy, for the strength of Australian business. What we have been able to achieve in Australia amongst the most uncertain and challenging of global times is very much the envy of the world. Australia has managed to save lives and livelihoods like few other countries in the world. Indeed, for nations of our size, scale and standing, we stand head and shoulders above the rest of the world for the saving of lives of Australians through the management of this pandemic and through the saving of livelihoods through the management of this pandemic.

It has been the largest economic shock to the world since the Great Depression. But, pleasingly, Australia is recovering strongly and creating more opportunities for Australians. Under our economic recovery plan, the Morrison government has committed a record $291 billion of support to the economy to protect the livelihoods of Australians, to keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs. Our plan, laid out in successive budgets last year and this year, creates jobs, guarantees essential services and builds a more resilient and secure Australia. Our plan is based on ensuring that lower taxes create the opportunities for investment—investment by households and investment by Australian businesses—putting more money in the pockets of hard-working Australians, enhancing reward for effort, supporting household demand and creating investment incentives for business, which are leading to more investment, more productivity and, most crucially, more jobs for Australians. That is the No. 1 dividend that we wish to see and that we take pride in: more jobs for Australians, at record levels.