Cabinet meeting

It's good that we're gathered here today on the first of

July, the day the new Senate starts. Not only does the

new Senate start today, but of course, pending its

repeal, the carbon tax goes up today. The carbon

tax as we know, is 9 percent on the price of power.

It's a nine billion dollar ($9.000,000,000) handbrake on

our economy, it's $550 hit on every household's

cost of living. We do welcome the new Senate, we do

want to work constructively and respectfully with

the new Senate. There are other things happening

today. Uh, Work for the Dole as a mandatory

continuous activity for people under 30 - starts

for unemployed people under 30 - starts today, or

is beginning today in ailing areas right around our

country. Uh, the youth job retention bonuses

start to operate from today. Uh, the

Restart Wage Subsidy Program for older workers starts to operate from today.

So, these are some of the constructive new

policies that were announced in the Budget kicking off from today.

Finally, could I just say what a good, strong team we have been over the last nine months.

The commitments that we made are being

implemented. We are stopping the boats. We are

building the roads. We are getting the budget

back under control and the carbon tax and the mining tax are going to be repealed.

So, I think we can all be very confident that the

deal that we struck with the Australian people in

the election campaign is being delivered upon, so, well done.