Job Creation

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:43): Supplementary question arising out of the minister's answer: given that the minister has referred to the global financial crisis and the global financial crisis occurred in 2007-08, and the promise was made in 2010, can the minister explain how the global financial crisis was not taken into consideration when the promise was made three years after the global financial crisis?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:43): The honourable member knows that the effect of that financial crisis and the fallout of that—in some ways, we are still feeling that.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Let the minister answer the question.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: No-one could anticipate what the outcome would be, so we set an aspirational target.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It is something we strive to achieve. It is something that indicates how important we think growing employment is and we continue with that same drive and passion. As I said, we have seen significant improvements on the horizon, so we anticipate that those positive trends will continue, but at this rate it would appear that it is unlikely that it will reach the 100,000 job target.