QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:19): We will do all we can to support Australians with the cost of living. I know you, your party and the other party that's part of the coalition—that is the Liberal Party at this stage— An honourable senator interjecting— Senator WONG: 'currently' part of the coalition—thank you for the interjection.

Senator Cash: We've got the broken promises right here. Senator WONG: Yes, I'll take that interjection from Senator Cash as well. Those opposite are opposed to cost-of-living measures.

We on this side listen to the Australians who we engage with, talk to and work with, and we know that families are doing it tough. So, Senator, if you have an issue with a government making sure that we address cost-of-living pressures for Australian families, I suggest you go and talk to voters because—let me tell you—I think most Australians recognise that things are difficult, that cost-of-living pressures are hard and that the government have a responsibility to do all that we can responsibly to ensure that we deal with cost-of-living pressures that families are facing.

We have a difference of political view, a difference of philosophy. We think that we should ensure that the cost of living is front and centre in our budget. We will do that responsibly.

Senator McKenzie: On a point of order of direct relevance, Madam President, I was asking the minister to respond to the Reserve Bank governor's— The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator McKenzie. I've asked you before to simply make your point about a point of order without giving a statement. The minister is being relevant, and I would suggest that, if you want relevancy, you ask all of the senators around you to listen in silence, because, as you know, the minister is entitled to take interjections, be they yours or someone else's.

Senator WONG: I make this point: (1) we make no apology for dealing with the cost of living as best as we are able, and (2), as I have already outlined and as the Treasurer will outline in much more detail tonight, this is a responsible budget, a budget which contains many more savings than were ever demonstrated by you in government. Senator Thorpe: It's stolen wealth.

It's all stolen. The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe, come to order! Minister Wong, did you wish to continue?

Okay. Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?