Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Finance, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:14): Mr President, 813,600—that's the number of jobs created in the past eight months. That is 813,600 jobs added back into the Australian economy; 93 per cent of those who had lost work at the height of the pandemic are back in work. And the government is delivering on its policies, as we had always outlined and promised. We always said that our policies in response to this would be targeted and proportionate. We always said that JobKeeper would taper off—as indeed the opposition had called for. We also always said that it would come to an end at the appropriate time—also as the opposition called for. Mr Albanese said that we need a 'sensible, pragmatic transition out of the process'. The PRESIDENT: I have Senator Watt on a point of order. Senator Birmingham has eight seconds left, I believe. Senator Watt: On relevance: in the remaining eight seconds, perhaps the minister would care to answer the question, which is, how many more of the more than 110,000 businesses will close? The PRESIDENT: I was listening carefully to the minister— Senator Watt interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, I'm ruling— Senator Watt interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, I allow points of order to emphasise the point of a question. But, with respect, I believe that the minister was being directly relevant. You're asking me to instruct him to answer in certain terms. He was specifically talking about the policy raised. You made your point, and there's an opportunity to debate the merits of answers after question time. Senator Birmingham, have you concluded? You have eight seconds remaining. Senator BIRMINGHAM: We're simply doing what the Labor Party used to call for. But of course, once again, they've changed their position for political expediency. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator O'Neill, a final supplementary question?