Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. I refer to the minister's statement in question time yesterday that the free trade agreements with China, Japan and Korea would 'create up to 178,000 jobs by the time those agreements come into full force in 2035'. Does the minister stand by her claim?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes I do and, certainly, that is what I was advised. But I think the more appropriate question for the Senate to be considering is: why do those on the other side hate the China free-trade agreement in particular? Why have you indulged in what is nothing more and nothing less than a xenophobic campaign that is solely aimed at ensuring that Australians going forward, young Australians, will not have the jobs that can be provided to them by the China free-trade agreement?

Mr President, do you remember last year when the President of China was in Australia and the free-trade agreement was signed? If I recall rightly, there was a lot of high-fiving done by those on the other side who wanted to claim credit in terms of the China free-trade agreement. But then of course we know what occurred. Calls were made by their mates—the puppet masters in the CFMEU—and they were told, they were given their marching orders—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my left and on my right.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order: relevance. The senator has been asked to justify the 178,000 jobs that she claimed yesterday. She has made one short statement and then has completely moved away from that justification of the 178,000—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Neill, the minister was asked a direct question in relation to did she stand by her comment to which she replied in the affirmative and she is enhancing her answer, which she is entitled to do, and she is relevant to the original question. Minister, you have the call.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have got to love those on the other side, who continue to tell Australians that they are the great job creators, that they are the great protectors of the workers. They will come in here and quibble over the number of jobs that are going to be created by free-trade agreements. Look what Andrew Robb, the minister, has just done in relation to the TPP. This is a government that does not just talk about creating jobs; this is a government that has a plan, a plan of action to ensure that going forward jobs are created for Australians, and you just do not like it. (Time expired)

Senator Cameron interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On my left, Senator Cameron.

Senator Back interjecting—

On my right as well, Senator Back.

Senator Rice interjecting—

Senator Lines, you have a colleague on her feet waiting to ask a question.

Honourable senators interjecting—

On my right and left.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. What is the basis for the minister's claim that the three North Asian free-trade agreements will create up to 178,000 new jobs by 2035?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(—) (): Sound modelling, I would suggest. Yet again, you come into this place and instead of congratulating us, instead of showing a little bit of bipartisanship when it comes to the issue of job creation, all you do is come into this place and quibble. It is a fact that free-trade agreements do create jobs. It is a fact that more jobs will now be created by those of us on this side of the chamber because we have finally entered into those free-trade agreements. If you look at the modelling by the Centre for International Economics, what does that show in relation to our three free-trade agreements with China, south Korea and Japan? It shows they will create thousands of jobs, make households $4,348 better off and boost GDP by $24.4 billion between 2016 and 2035. Again, why do you hate job creation? (Time expired)

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left and on my right.

Senator Cormann interjecting—

Senator Cormann, order on my right.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a final supplementary question. Doesn't the government's own modelling show the North Asian free-trade agreements will increase employment by 5,434 jobs in 2035? In light of this, hasn't the minister misled the Senate? Doesn't creating jobs involve more than making the numbers up?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me tell you what creating jobs involves. It involves a plan in the first instance. It involves those on this side of the chamber—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order: direct relevance. This minister is inclined to hyperbole. She was asked a very serious question about misleading the Senate. The government's own modelling is 5,434 jobs in 2035. Why don't you correct the record?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, the question was more detailed than just that. That was a part of the question and you commenced debating the question. Minister, you are in order and you have the call.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, what does it take to create jobs? It takes a plan. It takes—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Senator Wong, a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Direct relevance. The question is about her misleading the Senate. She should go to that question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not the only part of the question, Senator Wong. The question contained more elements than that. The minister has 45 seconds in which to answer. Minister?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, it takes a plan, and we on this side have a plan for Australians. We understand job creation. We understand that when you are in government you are given opportunities. You are given opportunities to create jobs, going forward for the future. That is why Minister Robb—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Point of order, Senator Brandis?

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

Point of order, Mr President. Senator Wong just accused Senator Cash of lying to the Senate. That should be withdrawn.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did not have the advantage of hearing what may have been said. Senator Wong, if you believe anything inappropriate was said, I would ask you to withdraw.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw 'lying' and I say 'mislead', and she should respond to that.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong. Minister, you have the call.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unlike those on that side of the chamber, I do not make excuses for job creation because that is what this government does, and we will continue to do it because we know what is in the best interests of Australians. Australians need jobs, and we will create them.