QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:41): I thank Senator Roberts for the question. My answer to your question yesterday was in response to you calling non-market jobs a Ponzi scheme. That's how you referred to those jobs.

You said aged care, disability care and health workers are effectively masquerading as a Ponzi scheme. That was in your question, so that's why I responded the way I did. Since we came to government, the number of jobs has increased by about 1.3 million jobs to the economy since May 2022.

I support completely the Treasurer's comments around the jobs that are being created in the private sector, and we have seen jobs in the public sector and in the non-market sector as well because there is enormous growth in the care economy, as there should be—people who are working hard to support people's ageing parents, our youngest citizens people who are sick and unwell.

That is going to be a growing part of our economy as well. The point I was trying to make yesterday is: don't punch down on those workers. Don't demean those workers by saying they are essentially operating in a Ponzi scheme.

Senator Hanson interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: Well, Senator Hanson, they weren't my words; they were your party's words. The point we were making is that this party will always create jobs. We will always ensure that those jobs are well paid and that those jobs are secure whether they're in the private sector, the public sector, the market sector or the non-market sector because at the end of the day a job allows you to live a dignified life.

That's what people on this side of the chamber care about. (Time expired)