Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (14:06): We have inherited a very challenging set of economic challenges from those opposite as a result of nine years of wasted opportunities, wrong priorities and a former government that was determined to make sure that people's wages went backwards. We have come in dealing with higher-than-expected inflation, and we are determined to get wages moving by submissions to the Fair Work case and by supporting wage claims like those of aged-care workers that are currently before the Fair Work Commission. These are the things that a government can do: it can help to shape the policies that deliver wage outcomes for people. We do want them to get moving, but we are facing— The PRESIDENT: Minister, resume your seat. Senator Birmingham: A point of order on direct relevance— The PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, you stand and then I give you the call, and then you start. You started to speak as you were rising. Please start now. Senator Birmingham: Sorry, President, I was trying to be efficient in the use of time. A point of order on direct relevance. The minister has been asked very clearly about a quote attributed to one of her ministerial colleagues and whether she stands by that quote. She has now for some 49 seconds talked around and about the broad topic but has not come directly to the quote. The PRESIDENT: In the supplementary question there were references to other ministers and a real-wage increase guarantee. I believe that the minister is being relevant, but I will continue to listen carefully. Please continue, Minister Gallagher. Senato r GALLAGHER: I can assure the Senate that every single minister in the Albanese Labor Government is focused on ensuring that we ease the cost of living on households, that we get wages moving and that we deal with nine years of— (Time expired) The PRESI DENT: Senator Hume, a second supplementary question?