Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Minister for Communications and the Arts) (14:44): As I have indicated, Newstart is primarily a payment designed to assist people transition through the labour market. As I have also mentioned, Newstart recipients often receive more than just the base rate and, again, as I have indicated, around two-thirds of those granted Newstart— The PRESIDENT: Senator Fifield, please resume your seat. Senator Hinch on a point of order. Senator Hinch: My point of order is I am hearing more of Senator Steele-John's interjections than I am of the answer from the minister. The PRESIDENT: I remind senators of the need to show courtesy to their colleagues so that people may hear the answers. Senator FIFIELD: As I was saying, around two-thirds of those granted Newstart exit income support within 12 months, but I cannot emphasise enough that one of the most important things— The PRESIDENT: Senator Siewert on a point of order. Senator SIEWERT: I would draw the minister's attention to my question. Could he live on $38 a day? The PRESIDENT: Senator MacDonald on the point of order. Senator Ian Macdonald: How can a question about what any one of us can or cannot do with money possibly be a portfolio question on this minister's portfolio? The question should have been ruled out of order. Senator Siewert interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Siewert, I am ruling on your point of order. This particular question, without explicitly stating it, refers to a number of statements in debates in this chamber that I have witnessed. For that reason I consider it to be in order, because ministers can be asked about previous statements even in a representational capacity. Senator Fifield, Senator Siewert has reminded you of the specific nature of the question. I can't direct you how to answer the question, but you do need to be directly relevant to it. Senator FIFIELD: As I was saying, one of the most important things that a government can do is to create an environment where there are jobs created so that people can leave Newstart and be employed. We are getting on with doing that. More than 240,000 jobs were created in the last financial year—the largest increase in jobs since before the global financial crisis.