Senator CHRIS EVANS (Western Australia—Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:05): I thank Senator Moore for her question, particularly as it focuses on the economy and working families and on what the government is doing to protect their interests, which is in sharp contrast to the opposition who again seem to be only focused on muckraking and opposition. It is the case that the current Australian economy is in good shape but it is also the case that we have seen a deterioration in the global economic outlook since May, following the global economic crisis. That does mean that our international partners are doing it tough. Many are very envious of Australia's economic condition. We are in very strong shape, and that is reflected in our employment numbers. This government has created more than 700,000 new jobs since coming to office and expectations are that jobs will continue to grow this year. Interestingly, despite some recent softness, we saw the other day that job ads had increased by six per cent last month, which is an encouraging sign that the jobs market may again be strengthening. But compared to America, the UK and other nations, this country is in great shape. That allows us to look after families, because the best thing that can assist a family is having people in work. We have people in work, and the reason we have people in work is this government intervened in the global financial crisis to stimulate the economy, to keep people in jobs, to create activity in the economy. Those opposite opposed that stimulus package; they opposed the stimulus that we provided. That stimulus not only provided infrastructure in every school in this country—new science labs, new libraries—but kept people in work. And this government remains committed to keeping people in work and creating job opportunities for Australians.