I can report to you that the Australian economy is stronger than it has been for some time.
Last week’s national accounts showed that our economy grew by 0.9 per cent in the March quarter.
This means that Australia has been growing faster than nearly all of the economies in the developed world.
Exports were up five per cent in the first three months of this year – the best result in 15 years.
Housing construction was up almost five per cent in the quarter and retail sales were up four per cent over the year.
And business confidence is continuing to strengthen.
All of this means jobs – a quarter of a million jobs that have been created since the election – and it shows that the Coalition’s long-term economic plan is working.
As I visited small businesses and communities around our country, I know that Australians are seeing this lift in confidence themselves.
They know – you know – it’s the right time to have a go: to buy new equipment, to invest in a new business, or to expand into new markets.
The Government will continue to deliver the important economic improvements that we need.
In the coming couple of weeks, the Senate should pass our Small Business and Jobs Package as well as other economic reforms.
The Government will continue to implement our plan to create jobs, to support families and to make the economy stronger.
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