Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance, Leader of the Government in Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:02): When we came into government, we inherited a weakening economy, rising unemployment and a rapidly deteriorating budget position. The unemployment rate is well below where it was when we came into government. Employment growth has been incredibly strong, running at about 2.6 per cent or 2.7 per cent over the last couple of financial years and 2.5 per cent over the most recent year, well above the 1.8 per cent long-term average. I would again refer to what happened to the lowest income earners in Australia under Labor. The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cormann. I have Senator Wong on a point of order. Senator Wong: The point of order is direct relevance. The Leader of the Government in the Senate is working valiantly to ensure he doesn't respond to the question about why they have no plan to deal with low wages, but it is not directly relevant to the question asked by my colleague for him to talk about Labor, Labor, Labor. You're the government; what's your plan? That's the question. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Wong: I was listening carefully to the minister's answer. I think it is in order for a minister to glance across alternative approaches and other historical contexts. I do believe the majority of his answer I was hearing was directly relevant. I call on him to continue. Senator CORMANN: Let me say again that I reject the basic premise underpinning the question. That is because real wages growth today is stronger than when we came to government. What I would also point out is that under the previous government the real minimum wage— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! Senator CORMANN: The lowest earners in Australia were hit by real wage cuts in three out of the six years that Labor was in government. In three out of six years, the lowest income earners in Australia were hit with real wage cuts— Opposition senators interjecting — The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cormann. I'm going to ask for slightly more quiet on my left. I am having trouble hearing the minister. Senator Gallagher, a final supplementary question?