QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:33): We see a global crisis as an opportunity to talk Australia up. They see it as an opportunity to talk Australia down. We have growth today of 2.5 per cent, which is higher than a majority of the OECD.

The Liberal-One-Nationals over there say it's the worst in the world in the world— Mr Taylor: Worst in the developed— Mr ALBANESE: The OECD, mate—the OECD is the developed world. The SPEAKER: Order. Order!

Members on my left. Mr ALBANESE: That's what it stands for. The OECD—it's this little body based in Paris.

Now, we are growing faster than most of the developed world. Mr Taylor: Your immigration certainly is! The SPEAKER: Order.

The Leader of the Opposition is just going to cease interjection. Mr ALBANESE: We have Temu Abbott over here, trying to press buttons and divide Australia, as they always do, when the fact is: as a result of this week, we have an economy that's growing. We have private sector investment which is growing substantially and driving that economy.

We have higher wages, as a result of the 4.7 per cent—something that those opposite, those in the Liberal One National coalition of the three parties, speak about: they speak about battlers, from time to time, but give a battler a wage increase and they hate it. The SPEAKER: Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer? Mr Tehan: Speaker— The SPEAKER: The manager, on a point of order?

Mr Tehan: On relevance, Speaker: this question didn't ask anything about the opposition. It was about falling living standards, that are far— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: And I think that's the bit the Prime Minister is disagreeing with, in his answer, regarding the question. He is entitled to disagree with the question—as every prime minister and minister has done, certainly since I've been in the parliament, so he's not breaking ground there.

Let's listen to the Prime Minister, because the Leader of the Opposition was heard in silence, so I think it will be in the best interests of the House if everyone just calms down and listens to the Prime Minister. Mr ALBANESE: When it comes to living standards, there are two issues we've seen this week: a 4.7 per cent increase for those people on the minimum wage, taking it, for the first time, to above a thousand dollars.

They say, 'What's that got to do with living standards?'—people's wages; people earning more! Dr Chalmers: 'Wages have got nothing to do with it'! Mr ALBANESE: Those opposite—we know it's a long time since they saw a minimum wage!

And tax cuts, which they're going to vote against on Thursday— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Alright. Now the House has come to order, we'll hear from the honourable member for Blair.