Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Attorney-General, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:01): Senator Ketter, thank you very much indeed for that question, because it gives me the opportunity to acquaint the Senate with the good economic news and the very strong economic performance— Senator Kim Carr interjecting— Senator BRANDIS: The question, Senator Carr, was about the government's economic performance, so let me tell you, Senator— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Senator Wong, a point of order? Senator Wong: I rise on a point of order going to relevance. The question was one question: is this the slowest rate of wages growth in the 20 years the ABS has been tracking the measure? That is the only question that was asked. The PRESIDENT: That is correct. That is the question. The minister had only just commenced his answer. Senator BRANDIS: I am going to address your question, Senator Ketter, but I think I am at liberty, Mr President, to give some context to my answer. Senator Ketter, we learned recently that economic growth in this country has risen to 3.3 per cent—one of the strongest economic growth figures this country has enjoyed for years and an exceptionally strong figure by international comparisons. Senator Ketter, during the last year of the government of which you were a member, economic growth languished at 1.9 per cent. Exports today are 9.6 per cent higher than they were 12 months ago—the strongest growth of exports in 16 years. Jobs growth in the last year of the government of which you were a member, Senator Ketter, was 86,000 additional jobs in that year. In the past year, it was nearly 220,000—2½ times the rate of growth in the last year of the government of which you were a member. Senator Ketter, you asked me— Senator Gallagher interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I think, Senator Gallagher, the minister was coming to the question. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Could I just indicate, both to people asking questions and to people responding to questions, the chair does need some comfort to know the question will be addressed. That comfort was given after the first point of order. I am taking the Attorney-General at his word. It would assist if the question was addressed early on in the answer, but the Attorney-General was right; he has the right to have context around the question. Senator BRANDIS: Thank you very much, Mr President. You have the wisdom of Solomon, as always. The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell, a point of order? Senator Farrell: Senator Brandis is misleading the Senate. Senator Ketter was not a member of the former parliament— The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order. That is a debating point. There are other opportunities to raise those matters, Senator Farrell. Senator BRANDIS: Senator Farrell, you rightly chastise me. I should not blame poor Senator Ketter for the performance of the previous government. The ABS Wage Price Index tells us that wages growth was 2.1 per cent over the year to June 2016. That is more than twice the rate of inflation and faster than the wages growth— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Ketter, a supplementary question?