Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Senator, does art matter?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. If art matters to this government and the Prime Minister, why has the PM not used the words 'art' or 'artists' since the COVID crisis started? How many times has the Prime Minister said the words 'art' or 'artists' since the crisis started? How many times has the Prime Minister uttered the words 'football', 'footy' and 'construction'?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't think it would surprise Senator Hanson-Young that I will have to take that very important question on notice, so that I can provide an accurate answer to that forensic question about a very important matter of public policy.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson-Young, a final supplementary question?

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is it true that the arts and recreation industry employs 50 per cent female workers while the construction and building industry is only 14 per cent? Does this government believe arts jobs matter? Do they believe women's jobs matter?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course this government believes that women's jobs matter. Before the COVID crisis hit we had secured record female workforce participation in our economy—the best ever. Indeed, the gender pay gap was the lowest ever—the lowest ever! That is on the back of our national economic plan for stronger growth and because of the leadership provided by a number of distinguished and outstanding senior cabinet ministers, including the minister for women's interests, Senator Payne, and her predecessors who have done outstanding work in promoting the cause of women's economic interests in the context of our government.