All Australians can be proud of the strong economic growth figures in the latest National Accounts Federal Labor Member for Maribyrnong, Bill Shorten said.

This week’s National Account figures showed Australia’s economy had grown by 1.3 per cent in the March quarter and the strongest through the year growth since 2007.

While so many European economies have slumped backwards, today Australia has surged forward in an extraordinary way.

“We’re used to punching above our weight at the Olympics and on the sporting field, now we can say we’ve got one of the strongest economies in the world.

“And small business owners and working Australians here in Maribyrnong who have helped make it happen.”

Mr Shorten said that despite Australia’s strong economy, he recognised that not everyone felt they were sharing in the benefits of it.

“As I move about our community people say they want to share in the benefits of our strong economy.

“That’s why we’ve introduced new cash payments with things like the Schoolkids Bonus, increase in family payments and the small business $6,500 instant tax write off” said Mr Shorten.

Mr Shorten said that in contrast to the Federal Labor Government’s sound management of our strong economy, Tony Abbott and the Liberals continued to talk down Australia’s economy.

“I think a lot of people are just sick of all the negativity coming from Tony Abbott and the Liberals.

This week’s National Accounts paint an extraordinary picture of exceptional growth in the March quarter, and showcase the rock-solid economic fundamentals which put our economy in a league of its own, despite ongoing global turbulence.

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Suburbs in the Maribyrnong electorate include: Aberfeldie, Airport West, Albion, Avondale Heights, Brooklyn (part), Essendon, Essendon North, Essendon West, Kealba, Keilor East, Keilor Park, Maribyrnong (part), Moonee Ponds, Niddrie, St Albans (part), Sunshine, Sunshine North and Tullamarine (part).

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