2014 is a ‘year of opportunity’, says PM Abbott
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has told his cabinet colleagues confidence is returning to the economy and 2014 will be a year of opportunity for Australia.
Mr Abbott on Thursday addressed the first cabinet meeting of the year, which has jobs and the future of fruit processor SPC Ardmona on the agenda.
“I sense that confidence is returning to our country and my conviction is that 2014 is going to be a year of opportunity for Australia,” he said.
“I am very pleased with the start that we’ve made and I believe the public are giving us credit for making a good start, even though we did inherit a mess.”
Mr Abbott said the government would get spending down in order to reduce taxes and allow businesses to grow and create more jobs.
“It’s not an exercise in philosophy, it’s not an exercise in textbook management,” he said.
It is an exercise in doing the right thing by the people of Australia who look to their government for “calm, measured, purposeful action” that would improve their lives.
Mr Abbott said there would be a lot of “noise” in political debate over the year, but the government would remain focused on its job.