Senator WONG (South Australia—Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:07): I thank Senator Stephens for her question. Like other senators on this side, she takes a strong interest in economic management and jobs growths, which puts those on this side, if I may say, Mr President, in a very different position from the carping negativity from those opposite. Earlier this week, Standard and Poor's confirmed Australia's AAA credit rating. The strong economic management of this Labor government has seen Australia awarded the coveted gold-plated AAA rating from all three global ratings agencies for the first time in our nation's history. Senator Brandis interjecting— Senator WONG: I know the truth hurts, Senator Brandis, but the reality is that we are one of only eight countries across the world holding a AAA— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, you are entitled to be heard in silence. If people wish to continue to talk, all they will do is disrupt question time when people want to hear the answers that are being given. Senator WONG: We are one of only eight countries across the world holding a AAA rating with a stable outlook—something no Liberal government has ever achieved. In fact, the International Monetary Fund has confirmed that the Howard government presided over a period of wasteful fiscal profligacy. I would invite those opposite to consider the report of the International Monetary Fund. We on this side do understand, notwithstanding our strong fundamentals, that not everyone is doing it easy. We understand that. That is why we have been focused on ensuring the economy is continuing to grow. We are focused on ensuring that we continue to grow jobs and maintain economic strength at a time of global volatility. Our responsible budget decisions have given the Reserve Bank room to move—and lower rates, of course, mean that modern families with a $300,000 mortgage are paying around $5,000 a year less in repayments than they were when the Liberals left office. This shows the government's continued sound economic management. (Time expired)