Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:09): Thank you, Senator Dowling, for the question and for battling through— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order across the chamber! Senator GALLAGHER: I acknowledge Senator Dowling for battling through all that noise from those opposite. There were as many interjections coming from those opposite as there are feet going upstairs to give interviews against each other in the press gallery each day. You can't get a spot up there these days! The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, a point of order? Senator Ruston: It's on relevance. As much fun as the minister might be having, maybe you could draw her attention to the point of the question. The PRESIDENT: The minister has just started her answer. I will listen carefully and, if necessary, will draw her attention to the question. Senator GALLAGHER: Thank you for a question on the economy. Since we've come to government, we've recognised that Australian households are facing cost-of-living pressures and we've been responding to that. At the same time we've been working with the Reserve Bank in order to make sure that inflation comes down and gets back into band. We know that that work is never done. But I think it is right that we, as Australians together, acknowledge the substantial progress that has been made over the last three years. Inflation has now been between two and three per cent for three consecutive quarters. While headline inflation increased last quarter, this was largely as a result of the end of state energy rebates, and it remains much lower than its peak. The Reserve Bank has cut rates three times this year. We are seeing those cost-of-living pressures remain, and that's why we have focused on measures that help households—measures that those opposite voted against and now refer to as wasteful spending. We're working out how to get wages moving. Lower taxes—this is the government of lower taxes. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: Well, we are. We're the only ones who went to the election promising to lower taxes. You promised to raise income taxes for every single working person in this country to pay for a $600 billion nuclear fantasy that some are still trying to revive. The government remain focused on the commitments we took to the election, on delivering on those commitments and on supporting households right across the economy. The PRESIDENT: Senator Dowling, first supplementary?