Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Finance, Special Minister of State and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (14:27): What I can confirm is that over the longer term our budget remains in surplus. We inherited a weakening economy, rising unemployment and a rapidly deteriorating budget position. Under our sound economic and fiscal management, economic growth is stronger, employment growth is much stronger and our budget position has been rapidly improving. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong on a point of order. Senator Wong: I didn't ask about macroeconomic parameters; I asked a very specific question about legislation that is before this chamber, which is the cost of stage 3 of the government's tax plan. The PRESIDENT: I'll take that as a point of order. The minister's been speaking for 22 seconds. He has a minute and 38 seconds to continue his answer. Senator CORMANN: What I can confirm is that the government's personal income tax relief plan is fully factored into our budget bottom line and that our budget remains in surplus all the way through from 2019-20 to 2028-29. In fact, we exceed a surplus of one per cent as a share of GDP by 2026-27 so that our plan is more than affordable. What I would say to— The PRESIDENT: Senator Carr on a point of order. Senator Kim Carr: A point of order on relevance: the specific question went to whether or not stage 3 of the government's tax plan will cost $10.4 billion a year by 2028, a 12 per cent growth rate per year. Is that true or not? That was the question. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Carr. The question contained lengthy figures in the preamble. The minister's entitled to address those in his answer. Senator CORMANN: Self-evidently, out of $144 billion, a component that costs $44 billion is not the most expensive. That's simple maths. What I would say to the Labor Party is that if you are worried about the third stage taking effect so late in the piece then why don't you go to the next few elections—in opposition, I hope—promising to abolish it? Just get out of the way and let the government get on with its job to implement the plan for jobs and growth that we believe is required for the best opportunity for all Australian families to get ahead, and promise to the Australian people that you will jack up their taxes. You've already admitted to more than $200 billion in higher taxes, which would hurt the economy, hurt families and cost jobs. Just add this to the ledger. Just go to the next few elections and say that you're going to increase taxes on everyone. We already know you're increasing— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cormann! Senator Collins on a point of order. Senator Jacinta Collins: Yes, thank you, Mr President—again, direct relevance. The question is simply this: can the minister confirm that, over the longer term—over the longer term—stage 3 of the government's Personal Income Tax Plan is more expensive? We don't care for the minister's suggestions about what others should do. This is question time, and he should answer questions. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Collins. The minister— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I'll address the point of order when there's silence. Senator Collins, the minister is entitled to address the figures outlined in the first part of the question as well. Senator CORMANN: Thank you very much, Mr President. In an abundance of openness and transparency—much more openness and transparency than was displayed by the Labor Party when Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard were in government—we have released figures over the medium term. I tell you: I was trying to get your figures on your resource superprofits tax for months. You kept them hidden. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, a supplementary question.