Senator WONG (South Australia—Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (15:02): As the senator knows, this government has steered the Australian economy through a global financial crisis. That did include putting stimulus into the economy. If those opposite want to oppose that, they can explain to Australians why they think more people unemployed and an economy in recession is good economic management. They can explain that to Australians, because it is absurd. In reaction to the 2012-13 budget I make this point: we have been up-front with the Australian people that, given what is happening to revenue and given what is happening to nominal GDP, a surplus is unlikely, and we will not cut spending to offset revenue downgrades if that would— Senator Fifield: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The minister has partially answered the question—she reluctantly conceded that it is unlikely there will be a budget surplus in the current financial year—but she still has not answered the question in relation to the previous financial years. The question was: how many budget surpluses has this government actually delivered? The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. I have said that I cannot instruct the minister how to answer the question. The minister still has 11 seconds remaining to address the question. Senator WONG: I refer the opposition to the medium-term fiscal strategy, which was outlined— Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The minister has got only three seconds left in her response. It doesn't actually take three seconds to say 'none'! Perhaps the minister is embarrassed to say 'none', but that is the only directly relevant answer to a very specific question. Senator Conroy: Once again those opposite demonstrate their arrogance. They stand up and say, 'She will answer this way.' Mr President, that point of order has nothing to do with the question. The point of order is utterly without foundation and should be rejected. The PRESIDENT: I have already said I cannot instruct the minister how to answer the question. I stand by that and invite the minister, in the three seconds remaining, to address the question. Senator WONG: I was referring, in an effort to help those opposite, to the 2008-09 fiscal strategy. (Time expired)