Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:01): What I can confirm for Senator Wong is that the Australian economy continues to grow. We are in our 28th year of continuous growth. Where other major trading economies around the world, like Germany and the United Kingdom, went backwards in the June quarter, we continued to grow. Do you know what else I can confirm for Senator Wong? It is that if there had been a change of government in May, right now the economy would be weaker on the back of $387 billion in higher taxes from the Labor Party. Senator Wong: Point of order: direct relevance—you've been in for six years. Can you confirm the slowest economic growth since the GFC. The PRESIDENT: You've reminded the minister of the question. He was being directly relevant, even if the last few words may have been a slight stray. Senator CORMANN: I confirm again that the Australian economy is in a stronger position as a result of our plan to build a stronger, more resilient, more successful economy than what would have been the case under the alternative. I know that in the Labor Party they're having this massive debate on whether they can blame it all on Mr Shorten or whether they actually have to reflect on what socialist policies they took to the last election. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong on a point of order. Senator Wong: I know he doesn't want to take responsibility— Senator Watt: He is the finance minister! Senator Wong: but he is the finance minister. The question goes to the slow economic growth over which he has presided. Who was Leader of the Opposition last term is not relevant to the question asked. The PRESIDENT: I was having trouble, between all the screaming, hearing Senator Cormann in that part of the answer. It is in order and directly relevant to discuss the matter of economic growth as part of that question. Senator CORMANN: This question goes directly to the alternative economic policy choices and their impact on economic growth. The PRESIDENT: I'll take Senator Wong on this point of order. Senator Wong: I seek your ruling on how it is possible that the question—and, I repeat, can the minister confirm that, under Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg, Australia is experiencing the slowest rate of annual economic growth since the GFC—have as directly relevant the alternative policies of the opposition. How is that possibly relevant? Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I'll just wait so I can talk. On the point of order, the minister is entitled to talk about economic growth. In my view, that is directly relevant to the question. However, any material that is additional to a specific answer must also be directly relevant to the question. So, to that extent, Minister, there is a limitation; the question was quite specific. But any answer— Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong—please. Any answer that covers the material about economic growth is, in my view, directly relevant. Senator CORMANN: Thank you very much, Mr President. I cannot possibly answer a question about the economic growth in Australia without actually comparing the two alternative policy agendas that were put forward to the Australian people. Under our agenda of lower taxes—pro growth, pro opportunity, pro aspiration—the economy continues to grow. Under the alternative, the economy would have been weaker and Australians would have been poorer. And in Australia, compared with other countries around the world, we actually do continue to grow. As the Reserve Bank governor also said, growth is expected to strengthen into the future. Have you looked at our employment growth? It is more than twice the growth rate across the OECD economies. There is more than twice the growth rate in employment, compared with the OECD average. But the Labor Party doesn't want to talk about the impact of their policies compared with ours, because they are deeply embarrassed about the fact that the Australian people have rejected their socialist agenda. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, a supplementary question?