Greg Mirabella (Victoria, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cash. Senator, how does the Liberal-National government's plan for our economic recovery ensure job security for all Australians not only now but into the future?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Mirabella for the question and I understand that it is your first question in this place. How fitting, Senator Mirabella, that you ask a question in which the Australian people are actively interested. That is of course Australia's economic recovery and how the policies of the Morrison government have in particular got more people back into work.

We know that on this side of the chamber governments themselves do not create jobs. That is for the businesses out there, the employers out there. Governments put in place policies under which businesses are able to prosper, grow and create more jobs for Australians.

Colleagues, you will recall that in 2020, Labor's Jim Chalmers said that the single biggest test of the government management of the pandemic is what happens to unemployment and jobs. Well, on Jim Chalmers' own analysis, this is a government that has delivered for the Australian people. What the budget tonight will show is that the unemployment rate will drop, colleagues, to 3¾ per cent later this year. If you compare that to what the unemployment rate was in September 2013, it was 5.7 per cent under Labor, and, as former Senator Cormann always used to say, 'and rising', because that's their track record.

Currently, under the coalition government, under the Morrison government, it is four per cent, and what you will see in the budget tonight is 3¾ per cent later this year. Jobs are important to the Australian people. Work is important to the Australian people. Tonight you will see the lowest rate in half a century. This is a government that believes in policies to ensure businesses are able to employ more Australians.

Slade Brockman (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Mirabella, a supplementary question?

Greg Mirabella (Victoria, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, how is the government's economic plan helping Australian families have the opportunity to achieve the Australian dream of owning their own home?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

We, the government, understand that homeownership is so important to the Australian people. What we are doing is making homeownership a reality for thousands more Australians. As part of our government's plan for a stronger future, we are supporting even more aspiring homeowners to get into the market, and the way we're going to do that—and we'll have more to say about that tonight—is to build on the remarkable success of our government's home guarantee scheme. We will more than double the program to 50,000 places a year. This means that this program, which does get people into their homes, will continue to help more single parents to buy a home with a deposit of as low as two per cent and help more first home buyers with a deposit of as low as five per cent. You'll hear more about that great Australian dream of homeownership tonight.

Slade Brockman (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Mirabella, a second supplementary question?

Greg Mirabella (Victoria, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Looking to the future, what are the risks to Australia's economic recovery as we continue to live with COVID-19 and the rising security challenges that face our region?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt was screaming out across the chamber: 'What are the risks to the Australian people?' Senator Watt, I would say it's an Albanese government, because what does an Albanese government stand for? Over the last 30 years Labor has delivered higher unemployment, higher interest rates, higher electricity prices. And, colleagues, let us not forget that they have not delivered a single balanced budget. Contrast that with Prime Minister Morrison, who is ensuring that this government puts in place policies that enable businesses to prosper, grow and create more jobs for Australians. This government now has more Australians in work than we had prior to COVID-19. This government understands that Australians deserve more of what they earn, and that's why we believe in lowering taxes. (Time expired)