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) (14:12): I thank Senator Sharma for the question. This government is determined to ensure that people's wages keep growing. That is why we have done a number of things, including amendments to the Fair Work Act but also supporting minimum wage increases. We remember the times when those opposite had a special section in their application to the Fair Work Commission on the minimum wage review. It was a special chapter that said 'The importance of low wages'— The PRESIDENT: Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Paterson? Senator Paterson: On direct relevance: I'm not sure what the Fair Work Commission under the previous government has to do with Senator Sharma's question. The PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson, the minister is being relevant to the question. The question went to wages, among other things. Senator GALLAGHER: We know what those opposite stood for and that a deliberate design feature of their economic policy was to keep wages down. We know they had that chapter in their submission. We know that, on this side, since coming to government, we have actively sought to ensure that wages get moving again. Real wages grew 1.3 per cent through the year to the June quarter, the strongest annual growth in five years. Senator Ruston interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: I know Senator Ruston won't like this. They've grown for seven consecutive quarters under this government—and what were they under you, Senator Ruston, when you were at the decision-making table? They were going backwards by 3.4 per cent. The PRESIDENT: Senator Sharma, first supplementary?