QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator HUME (Victoria—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:58): My question is to the minister representing— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I'm sorry, Senator Hume, I'm going to ask you to start again. I'm waiting for silence. Order on my right!

Senator Hume. Senator HUME: My question is to the minister representing the Treasurer, Minister Gallagher. The RBA said yesterday that the board also remains concerned about the continued weakness in productivity growth, and continued weakness will constrain the economy's ability to grow without generating high inflation.

The RBA revised down productivity growth in the December quarter to negative 0.5 per cent, significantly below the 0.2 per cent increase that had been forecast by Treasury. Minister, why is productivity continuing to fall?