Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:01): I am very pleased to take a question on the economy, although I am surprised that Senator Cormann did not have the opportunity to ask that question. I want to remind those opposite of something they really do not like to hear, and it is this: under this government, we have created over 700,000 jobs since we came to government. Under this government, we have come through the global financial crisis with one of the strongest economies of any of the advanced economies anywhere in the world and one of the strongest fiscal positions anywhere in the world. We have an unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent. In the eurozone it is 10.4 per cent. These are the facts that those opposite do not want to hear. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, please resume your seat. I need to hear the answer. When you are ready, we will proceed. Senator WONG: These are the facts that those opposite do not want to hear. All they want to do is talk down the Australian economy—how irresponsible of you. I was also asked by Senator Brandis about surpluses. I am very happy to have a discussion about surpluses, but I am very surprised that this got through the tactics committee, because what we have seen in these last days from the opposition's economic team is completely embarrassing. They are a circus over there. One wonders what Senator Sinodinos must be thinking as he watches my counterpart, Mr Robb, say, 'We can't even say we'll come back to surplus, were we elected, in our first term.' He could not even indicate they would come back to surplus by 2017. Mr Hockey today was again all over the place. Remember, Mr Hockey used to say you would come back to surplus earlier. Now you do not even know when you would. (Time expired)