China situation more "bad news" on jobs and economy

Official figures released on Thursday showed China's economy grew at 6.8 per cent in the December quarter, down from nine per cent.

"Today's growth figures from China are bad news for jobs in Australia and bad news for economic growth," Tanner told reporters in Melbourne.

"They're worse than market expectations and they confirm that the Chinese boom that has supercharged the Australian economy over the past five to seven years, is receding rapidly.

"That's a big problem for Australia."

China's slowing economy would have a bad impact on Australia's short-term economic outlook, Tanner said.

This year would be tough.

"These are unprecedented pressures we're dealing with here," he said.

Tanner said the government would unveil another economic stimulus package if it was needed, "but we have no specific plans at this point".

The government was working on the next budget and would do "whatever action is required" to support jobs and the economy, Tanner said.

He was cool on unions' calls for a job summit, saying talks were already taking place between the government, business, the unions and the community.

"But bear in mind that ultimately summits are about talking," he said.