MEMBER for Eden-Monaro and Assistant Minister for Productivity Peter Hendy said recent labour market figures demonstrated a new confidence in the economy that is allowing growth to occur.
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"This government has always been focused on job creation and these figures demonstrate that our economic plan is working,” he said.
"But of course we have more to do, and as the new Assistant Minister for Productivity, I will be focusing on further job growth."
He said Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed major centres across the Monaro and High Country enjoyed a fall in the unemployment rate to the June Quarter.
In Cooma the unemployment rate fell 5.4 per cent to 4.5 per cent; around the Cooma region from 2.8 per cent to 2.1 per cent; in Bombala from 3.6 per cent to 3 per cent; while in Jindabyne and Berridale it fell from 2.1 per cent to 1.6 per cent.
"The Australian economy is now $68billion bigger than that which we inherited from Labor in September 2013,” Dr Hendy said.
"There are now around 313,000 more Australians in work than when we took office - this is more Australians working than ever before.
"This is great news for the Monaro and High Country, great news for Eden-Monaro, and great news for the country.”
He said labour force figures released earlier this month by the ABS show a substantial increase in the number of people employed in August.
Seasonally adjusted employment grew by 17,400 in August, exceeding market expectations, and the employment rate declined to 6.2 per cent, he said.
In the eight months of data this year, DrHendy said 167,000 jobs have been created, with annual employment growth running at the strongest rate in over four years.
"These figures show that jobs growth in 2015 is now running at 10 times the jobs growth legacy of the previous government,” Dr Hendy said.
"In fact, Australia's jobs growth over the past year has been stronger than the US, the UK, Canada and every G7 nation.”
Peter Hendy named among new Prime Minister's cabinet
Peter Hendy has been sworn in to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's new cabinet as Assistant Minister for Productivity.
The new role will allow him to further the government's economic reform program and he will report directly to the Prime Minister.
Dr Hendy's promotion came days after Labor called on the first-term MP to explain his role in the coup to remove former prime minister Tony Abbott.
Fairfax Media revealed plotters used Dr Hendy’s east Queanbeyan home as a war room the night before Mr Abbott's removal.
-The Canberra Times
