Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. What is the budget’s predicted increase in unemployment in the current financial year? Is this figure being revised upwards?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The information you are seeking—

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It’s not even on your laptop.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It actually is. The employment forecasts are: in 2007-08, 2½; 2008-09, 1¼; 2009-10, 1¼—

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She asked you about unemployment, Stephen.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I am giving you the employment figures.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will get to that. I have a lot of statistics here that are excellent—

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How about relevant? Relevant would be better.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I can finish the answer to my question before you start interjecting—1¼ and 1¼. Now, unemployment—

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the next one?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

is 4¾ per cent by June 2009. That is just so that you have some perspective on it. Now I have satisfied those opposite with the statistics.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Rudd government is focused—

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let us be clear. There were two parts to the question.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Conroy, just address the chair!

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just answered you.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Conroy, address the chair. Those on my left, be quiet.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Rudd government are focused on delivering sustainable jobs growth well into the future. We openly acknowledged in the budget, and have regularly acknowledged, that a combination of slowing global growth and eight rate rises in three years courtesy of those opposite means that we are likely to see a slowing in employment growth. We have actually stated that up front. Due to global uncertainties, the legacy left to us by the highest inflation rate in 16 years and the fact that, when in government those opposite ignored 20 Reserve Bank warnings about the consequences of their slack—

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, a point of order on relevance: Senator Nash’s question was very clear. Senator Nash asked for the forecast increase of people unemployed. The minister has given us percentages of unemployment. The minister has not given us the figure for the number of people the government forecast will become unemployed.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. I draw the senator’s attention to the question. You have one minute 26 seconds in which to answer the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You should not be surprised to see the combination of global difficulties and the impacts of monetary policy flowing through to indicators like employment. We have been upfront and honest about this all along.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is written right there. Around the world today governments are dealing with the most challenging global economic conditions since the early 1990s. The global credit crunch and spiking higher oil prices have buffeted confidence and share markets all around the world. Global share markets have fallen by an average of around 20 per cent in developed economies since the global turmoil began. Countries such as Japan, France, Italy and Canada have all recorded negative growth in their most recently reported quarters, and consumer confidence across the OECD nations has fallen to its lowest point in 30 years. We must recognise that Australia is not immune to these global developments. (Time expired)

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Perhaps I could help the minister with the figure he was struggling so hard to find. It was 134,000. Given that the budget has predicted that a massive 134,000 extra Australians—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So long as there are people talking across the chamber it is not possible to hear the supplementary question being asked by Senator Nash. I do not care who is on their feet; they are entitled to be heard.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that the budget has predicted that a massive 134,000 extra Australians will be unemployed because of Labor’s policies, can the minister advise how many more Australians will be added to that number?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I have indicated, we have made it absolutely clear that there will be an increase—and it is an increase that lies at the feet of those opposite. Let us be clear about this. Let us not try and pretend. Let us not take an amnesia pill at five to two every day when parliament is sitting. Let us not take an amnesia pill. Let us be clear: you ignored 20 warnings from the Reserve Bank. They responded to your irresponsible economic policies—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, address your comments to the chair and not across the chamber.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite responded by ignoring the Reserve Bank and the Reserve Bank were forced to deal with the economically irresponsible budgets brought down by the highest spending, highest taxing government in the last 30 years by putting up interest rates. (Time expired)