Senator RUSTON (South Australia—Minister for Families and Social Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:00): I thank the senator for her question. What I can tell the senator following the release of the HILDA report is that this government, the Morrison government, is doing everything that it can to ensure that our economy remains strong. The very first thing we did when we came back after the election in May was pass a series of tax cuts through this place—tax cuts that were designed to make sure that people got more of their own money—money that they had earned—left in their pockets. We also announced over the last period of time a very ambitious— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: It was a simple question: what is the median household income now compared to 2013? That's what the minister was asked. She hasn't got a brief. Perhaps she could take it on notice. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, the minister was asked about household income but was also asked an earlier question about the data and its trend over recent years. There were two questions. The minister is entitled to answer either or both of those questions. Senator RUSTON: I have a great deal of pleasure in advising the house what the HILDA Survey did show. This longitudinal survey of Australian households over the last 17 years actually showed that unemployment picked up in 2017, particularly for women, who saw their employment rate rise— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, on a point of order? Senator Watt: Mr President, on relevance, again. The minister seems to want to talk about everything in the HILDA report apart from what she was asked about. Can she confirm that median household income has decreased under the Liberal-National government? That's the question. The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, that is part of the question. I do remind the minister that there were two parts of the question, both related to household income, and note that she has a minute remaining to answer. Senator Cormann interjecting— Senator RUSTON: Thank you very much, Senator Cormann. The reason that it would be higher than it would be under those opposite is that we weren't actually ripping $387 billion out of the pockets— Senator Watt: Mr President— The PRESIDENT: I anticipate your point of order, Senator Watt. Senator Ruston, I remind you of the nature of the question and ask you to turn to it. Note that you have 47 seconds remaining to answer. Senator RUSTON: I can advise this chamber that the average disposable household income rose by $527 to $55,000— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Watt? Senator Watt: Do we need to explain the difference between median and average? We asked about median. The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, it's been a while since I studied statistics, but median is a form of average. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! It is not a point of order on relevance to specifically ask for a type of answer. I think, in answering that, the minister had turned to the question and was being directly relevant. There's an opportunity after question time to debate this. Senator RUSTON: But what matters to the people of Australia is that they've actually got more of their own money in their pockets. What matters to them is that they've got a government that's focused on a strong economy. What matters to the people of Australia is the fact that we are a government with a plan to continue to deliver for them. You come in here and give us a lecture about the economy of Australia, when your plan going to the last election was $387 billion of more taxes. I don't know what part of that was going to make a stronger economy for all Australians. But, as I said, average household income has risen— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Walsh, a supplementary question.