Jim Chalmers 2022

Peter Stefanovic:

Treasurer, thanks so much more joining us on a very busy morning for you. You’ve literally been rolling up the sleeves. The storm looks like a nasty one. What’s your mind‑set this hour?

Jim Chalmers:

Leeanne Enoch:

The Government has agreed to recommend to the Governor‑General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, the appointment of Dr Angela Jackson as a full‑time Social Policy Commissioner to the Productivity Commission (PC), for a five‑year period.

This is a key appointment for one of Australia’s key economic institutions.

The Government has agreed to recommend to the Governor‑General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, that Mr Michael Callaghan AM PSM be reappointed as part‑time Chairperson of the Commonwealth Grants Commission (CGC) for a five‑year period.

The Albanese Government has appointed Jim Craig as a member of the Future Fund Board of Guardians for a five‑year term.

This appointment will add expertise and experience to the Future Fund Board.

Mr Craig is a highly accomplished director with exceptional investment and commercial expertise.

Today I am announcing that Qatar Airways Group’s (Qatar Airways) acquisition of a 25 per cent interest in Virgin Australia can proceed subject to enforceable conditions.

This proposal will deliver more flights for Australians and support secure Australian jobs.

It is expected to strengthen competition in the aviation sector.

From capital markets to critical minerals, trade to technology, manufacturing to infrastructure.

This Summit is about stronger returns and stronger economic ties between 2 great countries.

So thank you, Ambassador Rudd, for the invitation, for the introduction and for all your work with officials to bring us together in DC to talk about the big opportunities before us.

Jim Chalmers:

Today’s jobs numbers for January show the number of employed people in Australia reaching a record high of 14,634,300, with 64.6 per cent of the working age population now in a job and the participation rate at 67.3 per cent, both also records.

This is another very encouraging set of jobs data which shows the progress we are making together in our economy.

Tania Lawrence:

I’m Tania Lawrence, the Member for Hasluck. I’m joined today by Trish Cook, the candidate for the seat of Bullwinkel. And with the boundary changes, Trish is going to be representing a very large workforce of this area that is directly employed by the CFC and Centurion, which I’ll come back to in a moment.