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) (14:18): Frankly, I am surprised that Senator Hume would ask a question about productivity when the decade that they were in government saw the worst productivity growth in the last 60 years—in the last 60 years! The decade that you were in power had the worst productivity growth that we have seen. It was, on average, 1.1 per cent per annum for the decade you were responsible and you failed to deal with the challenges to productivity growth. We knew you were trying to keep wages low— The PRESIDENT: Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Birmingham? Senator Birmingham: I have a point of order, President, on direct relevance. Senator Hume has asked about the productivity changes in the June quarter and over the last year. It's all very well for the minister to talk about the previous decade, but she's happy to claim the budget surplus for the last year so how about the government takes responsibility for the productivity figures for the last year? The PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, the last part of what you were claiming was a debating point. Minister Farrell? Senator F arrell: On the point of order: I think that the minister is directly answering the question that she was asked, and I think she should be allowed to continue to answer that question. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Minister Farrell. The minister has just started her answer. I will listen, and if she's not— Senator Birmingham: She only has 18 seconds left! The PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, if you've called the point of order I would expect you to listen to my response in silence. Is this another point of order? Senator Birmingham: It's another point of order, President: fairness. It's a further point of order, on your ruling. Sometimes it's reasonable to point out that the clock has only elapsed a short period of time. On this occasion, the clock has elapsed 42 out of the 60 seconds so in fairness, President, if we're going to draw the minister's attention to the question it needs to happen now if she is to have time to actually answer the question. The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell? Senator Farrell: On the point of order: the minister has been answering the question directly and every time Senator Birmingham interrupts it's less time to answer that question. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Farrell. I am going to allow the minister to continue, Senator Birmingham, and I will listen carefully to her continued response. Minister. Senator GALLAGHER: Thank you. The point I was making is that we do have a productivity challenge in our economy; that's reflected in the national accounts. But it's reflected in the economy that we inherited from those opposite, who didn't do the things they needed to do in skills, in reconstruction, in investments in IT and in supporting employees. For all of these things we're having to fix up your mess— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Hume, a second supplementary.