There are more people in work today than there were before the pandemic hit. This country has gone through the worst economic crisis we have seen since the Great Depression but, unlike so many other countries around the world ... like so many other countries around the world, only Australia stands alone amongst so many advanced economies in being able to demonstrate the resurgence of our economy and our labour market in particular, Mr Speaker, as more and more and more Australians get back into work.

Now, it is not by accident because we know, we know that as more and more people get back into work, then that creates tightness in the labour market which ultimately, Mr Speaker, ensures that wages can grow again, but it is not just the only reason why wages will agree.

When you encourage businesses to invest in productivity, when you encourage them through the instant asset write-off and when you encourage them with the multitude of tax incentives to invest in research and development, to invest in their manufacturing capabilities as we are through the modern manufacturing initiative, what that is showing, Mr Speaker, the tax rate on new investment in Australia today is not 30%.

It is not 25%. It is 21%, Mr Speaker. What that means is Australian businesses investing in the plant and equipment which list the productivity of their workers means that they can earn more, but it goes beyond that because they won’t just ... benefit from a growing economy and their own employers investing in their businesses so they can earn more, they can keep more of what they earn under a Liberal-National government because those opposite, we know, we have seen the cat belled down in Victoria.

What is first thing that the Labor government wanted to do in Victoria? Increase taxes, Mr Speaker, at the first opportunity. That is the Labor way. That is the Labor way.

The Coalition’s way, Mr Speaker, is to lower taxes, to keep taxes low so Australian businesses can invest, so Australians can keep more of what they earn, so they can save for their first home.

We have got first-home ownership at the highest level, Mr Speaker, in 11 years, in 11 years, Mr Speaker, because we are allowing Australians to get ahead. We believe if they have a go, they will get a go, Mr Speaker.

Under our policies, they are getting that go. The businesses who employ them are getting that go, Mr Speaker. What they will get from those opposite, as we know, as is their form, Mr Speaker, is higher taxes, higher taxes and higher taxes from Labor.