WONG: Its great to be back here in South Australia and to speak about the South Australian economy, but more importantly the economy of the future and what needs to be done to ensure government and businesses work together to build the growth and jobs for the future. And, of course this week we saw the Prime Minister announce the Innovation and Industry Statement where we spoke about our strategies to ensure we build jobs and growth into the future, including here in South Australia. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: As a South Australian, are you embarrassed by the figures coming out of northern Adelaide given Labors state and federal years in government?
WONG: Look, Id make a couple of points. First, obviously the Government continues to put a substantial amount of assistance into employment services in areas of high unemployment.
But Id also say this: if youre concerned about unemployment in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, consider how a Tony Abbott-led Government which will cut assistance to the car industry how that would affect the unemployment numbers in the northern part of Adelaide.
JOURNALIST: Just on the Jobs Plan, theres reports today that the Tax Office and the Industry Department said that there was not a billion dollars worth of savings to fund the Plan. What was your advice before you announced it?
WONG: Id refer you to Minister Combets comments today I think hes dealt substantively with that matter.
JOURNALIST: What were they?
WONG: Id refer you to those comments. Hes dealt substantively with that matter.
JOURNALIST: Earlier Warren Hogan of the ANZ said that (inaudible) debate on industry policy, said that public servants may be good at economic spending but they (inaudible) on business. Do you agree with that?
WONG: I think that you need partnership. You need partnerships between the private sector and business and thats precisely what our industry statement is about. Its about bringing firms and researchers together to collaborate better so that we can make sure we, not only find the next ideas, but that those new ideas are commercialised into new products and new services.
My view is that what government should do is make sure we have the right economic settings and thats what weve done as a government. Remember, weve got strong public finances, weve got relatively low unemployment, weve got low interest rates, low inflation and weve got growth thats important for business. Weve got to have confidence in the economy now and into the future. But we also need collaboration with the private sector because the innovation in the private sector is what drives the next new idea.
JOURNALIST: Is that possible though given Wayne Swan and Julia Gillards relationship with big business?
WONG: I dont accept the premise of the question and I can tell you
JOURNALIST: Wayne Swan and Julia Gillard have a bit of (inaudible) big business, dont they?
WONG: Well
JOURNALIST: (inaudible)
WONG: I dont accept what you said and how you phrased the question. We have a very important and strong dialogue with all sectors of the business community and of course at times well have a robust discussion about whats in the best interests of the country.
But I can tell you this: We are all focused on whats required, not only to ensure we continue to have growth in jobs now, but as our economy changes weve got a very high dollar, with got big changes in the global economy, theyre not changes that you can wish away. As our economy changes because of those big economic shifts weve got to have the right plans in place and the right policies for the future.
JOURNALIST: Now that the Greens have severed ties, will you release their costed policies and, if not, why not?
WONG: This is something, I think is it Mr Briggs who goes on about this? Id like to remind him that under our government something I think journalists would be happy about politicians dont actually make the decisions on Freedom of Information. Those changes under our government were put in place so that decisions were taken out of politicians hands and given to public servants. So, the release of costings under FOI is entirely a matter for the relevant departments, and my recollection is the Finance Department has released a number of those costings.
JOURNALIST: Senator, will Julia Gillard still be Prime Minister come June?
WONG: Yes.
JOURNALIST: Do you believe that Kevin Rudd is a possible future Leader?
WONG: Look, weve dealt with these matters previously and the position of the Party is clear.
JOURNALIST: But does it concern you that
WONG: Im not going to engage in
JOURNALIST: Given that theres another poll next week and I think Mark Butler on radio this morning acknowledged that there were people within caucus that are talking about Kevin Rudd as a future Leader and thats not helpful. But given the regularity of the polls, are you concerned that your message the Governments message just wont get out with Julia Gillard?
WONG: I think my concern is that theres a lot of discussion about polls and as the Minister for Finance, as someone who is having to deal with some of the economic changes weve discussed, having to deal with some of the changes in terms of the high dollar on Government revenue, Im concerned that sometimes we spend a lot of time commentating on polls.
Our job is to continue to focus on jobs, the economy and making the right decisions for the future.
JOURNALIST: Do you think its unusual that every time Julia Gillard comes to Adelaide the leadership issue seems to boil up?
WONG: Thats because youre always here, mate (laughs).
ENDS