QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:27): Thank you, Senator Sterle. Of course, tax cuts benefit Australian workers and they benefit small business too. Earlier this week, Senator Hume said that Labor's tax cuts—of which there have been five—were 'egregious'.

She said what she said, no matter what she wishes she said. She said the Liberals' quiet part out loud. The PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr?

Senator Scarr: A point of order on direct relevance. Senator Sterle asked a sensible question— The PRESIDENT: Thank you— Senator Scarr: and it's become a personal attack on one of our colleagues. The PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr, we don't need the running commentary.

The minister is being relevant to the question; I'll continue to listen carefully and, if he isn't, I will draw him back to the question. Minister Ayres, please continue. Senator AYRES: They don't like it when Australians earn more and they don't like it when they keep more of what they earn.

I wasn't sure what 'egregious' meant. I was sure it must have meant 'good'! So I had a look at it in the dictionary, and I can tell you the etymology of 'egregious'.

It is used by Australians 0.7 times for every million words that are issued. You're just so lucky, Liberals! You're just so lucky that Senator Hume chose to say— The PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr?

Senator Scarr: President, again, the minister is being egregious, in terms of his response to this question! The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Scarr. Thank you, Minister.

Please continue. Senator AYRES: Well, that's the word that she chose to use to describe tax cuts for every working Australian and support for every Australian small business. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: I advise the chamber that Senator Thorpe has passed her question to the Greens.