Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:51): Mr President, there is no aspect of that question within the representing portfolio. Senator Brandis: Mr President, on a point of order. The PRESIDENT: The question has been answered but I will take your point of order. Senator Brandis: Mr President, the minister specifically said she would not answer the question. You directed her to do so. The question asked whether the minister stood by a statement concerning employment statistics, which she had made earlier, some years ago. You should direct her to the question: does she stand by that which she once said? Senator Jacinta Collins: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I understand that you are keen to progress dealing with this matter but it is important that it be understood very clearly before us the nature of the response, which has been completely misrepresented by Senator Brandis. Senator Wong clearly indicated that there was no aspect of that question that fits within her representation of the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order on both sides! The minister did answer the question. I cannot instruct a minister how to answer the question. The minister did give an answer. I cannot instruct a minister and direct a minister how to answer the question. That is something that the minister has in their own right. Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I asked the Minister for Employment Participation: does she agree with the statement made by Senator Wong— The PRESIDENT: No—I understand she is representing the minister. You said 'as the minister'. Senator Ian Macdonald: As the minister representing the minister. The PRESIDENT: Yes, that is correct. Senator Ian Macdonald: Does she agree with the statement made by a Senator Wong in 2007 about the disconnect between the ABS unemployment figures and the true state of the Australian labour market? So what I am saying to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment Participation is: does she agree with a statement that a Senator Wong made in 2007 regarding the disconnect between the official unemployment figures and the true state of the Australian labour market? Senator WONG: The ABS utilises definitions in relation to the official unemployment figures which have been in place for some time. I can take on notice how long, but my recollection is they certainly have used the same definition under both parties of government. Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. My question was: does the Minister representing the Minister for Employment Participation agree with a statement by a Senator Wong about the disconnect? Either the minister for employment participation representative agrees with the statement of a Senator Wong back in 2007 or she does not. That is the question. I did not ask for a definition or explanation. Senator Jacinta Collins: Mr President, there is no point of order. Senator Wong is dealing with relevant background to the question, very generously given the nature of the question, and I suggest that the opposition listen. The PRESIDENT: I have said this before: I am not able to tell the minister how to answer the question. I believe that the minister was answering the question. The minister still has 42 seconds remaining to answer the question. I call the minister. Senator WONG: I am, of course, as always, flattered by the senator's interest in me and everything I have said through the years, but what I was trying to explain to him— Senator Brandis interjecting— Senator WONG: I am not sure if I should take that as a compliment or otherwise, Senator Brandis. The PRESIDENT: Order! Ignore the interjections, Senator Wong. Senator WONG: What I was trying to explain to him is that the ABS definition of unemployment is transparent, is available on their website and is, as I said—and I will check this—the same as was in place when Mr Costello was Treasurer. Obviously, the unemployment rate does not measure those not in the labour force, as it did not when Mr Costello was Treasurer.