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) (14:56): On government spending, we have delivered the first back-to-back surpluses in almost two decades, something that the governor herself has drawn attention to as being helpful. We have returned 70 per cent of all tax receipts to the bottom line, when you only returned around 40 per cent. Debt is $188 billion lower in 2024-25 than what was forecast prior to the 2022 election, saving $60 billion in interest costs. And we have managed to restrain average real annual spending growth to 1.7 per cent over the seven years to 2028-29. That is the budget doing what it needs to do. Responsible budget management— Senator Ruston interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, that was extremely rude. You're not at a football match. If I haven't seen the senator on his feet, the clerk would advise me. Senator Paterson. Senator Paterson: On direct relevance, the minister has not yet said whether the government accepts responsibility for the rate rise. The PRESIDENT: There was more to your question than that, and the minister is being relevant. Senator GALLAGHER: We have taken decisions in the best interests of the economy, to manage the budget in a responsible way, to find savings and to make investments where we need to make those investments—in areas like health, in areas like payments for people on low incomes, in areas like housing and dealing with climate change. (Time expired)