Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance) (14:16): Senator Wong is very selectively quoting. Ms Westacott very clearly pointed out the significant problems that would follow in terms of lowering living standards and weakening economic growth if we did not address the disastrous trajectory that the previous government put Australia on. If we stayed on the spending growth trajectory they put Australia on, the economy would weaken and people would be forced to pay higher taxes or accept deeper cuts. We are making measured change with an eye on the medium to long term, putting Australia on a stronger foundation for the future, making sure that, through sensible structural reforms— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. A point of order, Senator Moore? Senator Moore: Mr President, I have a point of order on direct relevance to the question. The question was: does the minister agree with Ms Westacott's comments about the economy? Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! It does not help me ruling on a point of order if people interject. In relation to your point of order, Senator Moore, the minister responded to a quote and then clarified that the quote may not have been used in its entirety. He was then asked whether he agreed with the quote. He is clarifying the position of the quote. The minister has 20 seconds left in which to answer the question. Senator CORMANN: Not only did the previous government leave behind a very bad budget position; the worst thing the previous government did was to put Australia on an unsustainable spending growth trajectory for the future, an unsustainable debt growth trajectory for the future. If we did not address that, then we would be exposing Australia to lower living standards and higher taxes. (Time expired)