Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:30): Thank you, Senator Hume, for your question. Senator Ayres: The budget surplus is a start. Senator FARRELL: I couldn't have said it any better, Senator. I will take that interjection. Let's go back in time a little bit. I know you hate this, but we inherited a $1 trillion debt. What did we do? Not only did we inherit a $1 trillion debt— Senator Birmingham: No, you didn't! Senator FARRELL: We did, Senator Birmingham. I know you don't like it. I know you don't like us talking about your incompetent economic management, but not only did we inherit a $1 trillion debt but we inherited a $70 billion deficit. Senator Hume, what we did— The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell, direct your comments to the chair. Senator FARRELL: She asked the question, with respect. The PRESIDENT: But you direct your comments to me. Senator FARRELL: And she'll ask me some supplementary questions, and she won't have listened to my answer. I just want to make sure that when I give the answer to this question she— The PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, a point of order? Senator Birmingham: President, on direct relevance. This minister does it time and time again. He runs the clock down with endless waffle and diversionary tactics. He's had more than three— The PRESIDENT: Your point of order? Senator Birmingham: The point of order is on direct relevance. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. Senator Birmingham: He's had more than three-quarters of the allocated time, and the words 'aggregate demand' haven't passed his lips at all. Does he even know what it is? The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I would remind senators, as I did yesterday, that if there are interjections the minister is entitled to take those into consideration. I will remind him of the question, Senator Birmingham, but if there aren't interjections then we can focus on the question. Senator FARRELL: Thank you, President, for that clarification. I answered your question in the very first answer I gave. Just because you don't— Senator Hume: President, I raise a point of order and a clarification. Economist Chris Richardson said that the only people who would use the phrase 'a billion dollars worth of debt' are either ignorant or making a political point. My question, President, is: which one? The PRESIDENT: Senator Hume, resume your seat. I would remind senators that, if you are standing on a point of order, make sure it is a point of order and not a debating point. Minister Farrell. Senator FARRELL: Thank you. Is that Senator Hume's first supplementary question? (Time expired) Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, there's one of your own senators—order!—on her feet, waiting to ask her first supplementary. Thank you, Senator Hume.