Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:44): I thank the shadow Treasurer for his question and for his constant talking down of the Australian economy. He's quite upset because the comparison of Australia with the G7 or with the former government shows that here in Australia we have an economy that continues to grow. We have wages that are growing—including real wages. We have inflation which is continuing to moderate. We have productivity that is increasing, and we have a budget that has gone from a $78 billion deficit under those opposite to a $22 billion surplus. If you compare that with other economies in the region, we have higher economic growth than Canada, than France, than Germany, than Italy, than Japan, than the UK—not higher than the US, it must be said, but it's higher than six of the G7 nations. We have employment growth that is higher than all the G7 nations— Ms Plibersek interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Prime Minister will pause. The Minister for the Environment and Water will cease interjecting. The member for Hume, on a point of order. Mr Taylor: On relevance, it was a very tight question about defining a GDP per capita recession. If the Prime Minister doesn't know the answer, he should sit down. The SPEAKER: Please resume your seat. The Prime Minister was asked about— Ms Rishworth interjecting— Ms Catherine King interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Social Services and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government can cease with their interjections. The Prime Minister was asked about GDP per capita recessions. I take it that the member's asking for a definition of what that is. You're requiring an answer? Well, under the standing orders, I've got to make sure—I can't deliver that for the member for Hume. I just want to be upfront. I've got to make sure the Prime Minister is being directly relevant. I know the answer the member for Hume and maybe other members would like, but, whilst the Prime Minister is talking about the GDP, he is been directly relevant. That's not the answer you want, Member for Hume, and I appreciate that, but under the standing orders— Mr Taylor: It was a very tight question. The SPEAKER: Yes, I appreciate that. But under the standing orders, for the Prime Minister to be relevant, he has got to be talking about the issue. He may not give the definition that you wish. I just hope everyone is clear on that and what the standing orders enable me to do. You want a direct answer? I can't do that. I can direct the Prime Minister to be directly relevant. Mr ALBANESE: I'm surprised they don't want to hear that Australia has faster economic growth than Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. They don't want to hear about that or that we have a lower unemployment rate than Canada, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, or that we have faster employment growth than Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and the UK—we have a faster employment growth than all the G7 countries. Of course what we saw last week, with their questions, was that when the figure came in at 3.7 per cent for unemployment, with — Mr O'Connor interjecting— The SPEAKER: The Minister for Skills and Training will cease interjecting. Mr ALBANESE: record employment growth under this government now totalling more than three-quarters of a million Australians in work, they hated it. They talked it down and they continue to talk down the Australian economy. I'm not surprised that they continue to talk down the Australian economy, because they have absolutely nothing positive to offer.