Senator SINODINOS (New South Wales—Assistant Treasurer) (14:15): I thank the honourable senator for his question. When it comes to having a strong economy, the Liberal and National parties are a unity ticket. Honourable senators interjecting— Senator SINODINOS: Today's national accounts were for the September quarter, and they reveal an economy— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I remind honourable senators, if you wish to debate the issue, the time is after question time. When there is silence on my left, we will proceed. Senator Cameron: You've got a demilitarised zone there, a DMZ! Senator SINODINOS: These are the September quarter national accounts, the last quarter of accounts under the previous government, and this is the legacy that Labor has left us, with growth continuing to be below trend—0.6 per cent for the quarter, 2.3 per cent through the year. This is the fourth consecutive quarter of below-trend growth. For a number of years, we heard from the other side about trend growth and all the rest of it. That was masking weakness in the non-mining economy. These latest statistics underline that, as mining investment continues to come off, that weakness in the non-mining economy is coming through. The major source of growth in the quarter was an increase in net exports, which we welcome, contributing 0.7 percentage points to GDP. That growth in export volumes is important. In the years to come, that will be the pay-off for the large supercycle of resource investment which we have had, but it does mean we are in a transition, and those exports will not make up for the impact on GDP of falling mining investment, so we need to continue the transition to a stronger economy. Household consumption remains subdued, contributing 0.2 percentage points to GDP growth in the quarter. Saving levels remain elevated, at over 10 per cent of GDP. Consumers remain cautious. Non-mining investment— Senator Jacinta Collins: Take a breath, Arthur! Senator Conroy: Full stop, full stop, comma, comma! Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Sinodinos, you are being interrupted again. It is not fair. Those on my left, I remind you it is disorderly to engage across the chamber when a minister is answering the question. Senator SINODINOS: There is fairly weak business investment, and this is before the economy was hit by the full impact of the fall in mining investment. Mining investment is expected to fall from eight per cent of GDP to around three per cent of GDP over the next two to three years. That is a very big transition. Wages growth remains soft. (Time expired)