The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: My question is addressed to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the latest employment statistics?

The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: I thank the member for her interest in this very important matter. According to the latest official figures released this morning by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the New South Wales unemployment rate for August has not increased but remains unchanged at 6.1 per cent. In Australia, the unemployment rate has remained unchanged at 5.8 per cent. In Victoria, the rate increased from 5.9 per cent to 6.3 per cent, making its rate the highest in the country. When the global financial crisis began to hit Australian shores, we were warned that a chief consequence would be a rise in unemployment across the nation. In fact, I remind members that in the State Budget, Treasury forecast that unemployment in New South Wales could go up to 8.5 per cent in 2010-11.

Today's figures, whilst steady, are a reminder of the very real consequences of the global recession and its impact on families in New South Wales. This is a wholly imported recession which is why we must maintain our record infrastructure spend of $62.9 billion and stimulus measures to support jobs. Now is not the time to wind back the stimulus measures as advocated by Barry O'Farrell and Malcolm Turnbull. Just as we are beginning to see the green shoots of recovery, those reckless economic vandals would have us roll back the stimulus measures and put more people out of work. The economic vandals on the conservative side of politics want to put the Victa lawnmower over the green shoots of recovery. Creating jobs and jobs security is this Government's number one priority.

As is my nature, I cruise the web from time to time and, for a laugh, go to the website of the shadow Treasurer. It is interesting that while Barry O'Farrell and Malcolm Turnbull argue that now is the time to stop the stimulus and pull back the State and Federal stimulus, Michael Baird states on his website, "Conditions are tougher than they have ever been before." He gives anecdotes about some businessmen he has met in Wollongong, Campbelltown and Blacktown. He is someone with real economic confidence as opposed to Barry O'Farrell and his offsider, the Hon. Duncan Gay. The shadow Treasurer with real honesty said that conditions are tough out there—which is precisely why we should maintain the stimulus strategy at both State and Federal levels. Michael Baird also said, "the recovery has not yet come"—precisely why we should maintain the stimulus strategy.

The Hon. Michael Gallacher: I would not trust anything you say.

The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: It is on the website. That is why the Deputy Leader of the Opposition especially should read Michael Baird's website. Over the next four years we will have a $62.9 billion investment in infrastructure, supporting 160,000 jobs—

[Interruption]

I am shocked that members of the Opposition are attacking their own shadow Treasurer. The Hon. Greg Pearce and his shadow, the Hon. Matthew Mason-Cox, know the truth. A part of the massive investment is the $4.8 billion Sydney Metro, creating 2,000 jobs a year for the five years of its construction. Those are more jobs that Barry O'Farrell wants to axe. This is the biggest construction job in Sydney's central business district since the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Opposition response is to promise to scrap it and put people out of work. Of fifty major cities around the world, 45 have a metro system. One can find them all over the world. Of course, Sydney is in the top 50 urban cities by gross domestic product, which is why the metro is an important part of our $62.9 billion infrastructure investment for the people of New South Wales.