Senator KIM CARR (Victoria—Minister for Human Services) (14:45): I have explained now on three occasions that the funding that the Commonwealth provides is indexed. The amount of money we are providing this year is $13.6 billion. That compares with $8.5 billion in the last year of the Howard government. According to the figures I have seen on the opposition's funding cut proposals, they would seek to take $2.8 billion off the current programs. It is the height of hypocrisy for Senator Nash to come into this chamber and argue that this government is doing something when it is not, while at the same time having a policy of cutting funding. Senator Nash: Mr President, I raise a point of order again on relevance. I asked the minister if he agreed with the Daily Telegraph reference. He has not addressed the question at all. The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is answering the question. The minister still has 24 seconds remaining to answer the question. Senator KIM CARR: This government is providing $1.5 billion for disadvantaged schools. It is providing $550 million for teacher education, to support quality teaching education. It is providing $2.5 billion for schools to access new trade-training centres. It is providing $1.1 billion in rewards for greater teacher schemes, and $475 million over seven years for schools' autonomy. (Time expired)