Senator CASH (Western Australia—Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) (14:24): I thank Senator McGrath for the question. As the Minister for Finance has stated, COVID-19—a global pandemic—has had a devastating impact on not only the global economy but of course the Australian economy. When a government has to shut down parts of the economy, it is going to have a detrimental effect. We know that it has had a devastating effect on many small and family businesses around Australia, but that is why the government took decisive action and continues to take decisive action to respond to both the health aspects of the pandemic and of course the economic aspects. Small and family businesses are the engine room of the Australian economy. In particular, they support rural and regional economies around Australia. That is why we are investing a record stimulus of in excess of $300 billion in the economy to ensure that we can support them. Senator Watt interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt! Senator CASH: When we look at— Senator Watt interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt! Senator CASH: the support that is actually flowing through to small business— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cormann, on the point of order? It might be what I was about to say. Senator Cormann: Interjections are always disorderly—even more so when there is total disregard to interventions by the President. The PRESIDENT: I am going to revert to my rule of asking people to count slowly to 10 after they're called to order, especially those who have been particularly voluble today, Senator Watt. Senator Cash. Senator CASH: Thank you, Mr President. And— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Watt— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: If someone has been as voluble as Senator Watt has been, they probably need to learn a little bit of patience. I've called him out more than anyone else today. I will call those to my right to order in a minute, but— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Goose and gander—when I've called Senator Watt more than a dozen times in 25 minutes, he can bite his tongue. People shouldn't bait those who are known to have short fuses, either. Please, if I call you to order, at least show some respect to the chair and your colleagues by not continuing it immediately. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, across the chamber! Senator Cash. Senator CASH: Thank you, Mr President. The economic support is flowing through to small and family businesses around Australia. We know that the JobKeeper program is supporting around 3.5 million Australians to maintain that really important connection with their employer. Yesterday legislation passed this place that will ensure that that support continues until March next year. The cash flow boost is also flowing through to small and family businesses around Australia. Over 785,000 businesses are now accessing over $24 billion in assistance, with that important money flowing through to them. At this time, the apprentice wage subsidy is supporting over 51,200 employers, most of which are small businesses around Australia, to retain almost 90,000 apprentices and trainees. Small and family businesses are the backbone of the Australian economy, and the Morrison government will continue to support them. The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, a supplementary question?