QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (15:02): I do notice that, on Senator Bragg's big day out—he had a big day out down at the Press Club today. Oh, he'd been looking forward to it! I could tell.
I could just pick it up. Again, when asked about whether or not GST would have to be looked at as a way of balancing the budget, what was Senator Bragg's answer? 'Well, maybe. We'll have to look at everything—put everything on the table.' So the party of lower taxes apparently— The PRESIDENT: Order!
Minister Gallagher, resume your seat. Senator Hume— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senators, come to order.
I have a senator on her feet. Senator Hume? Senator Hume: Madam President, it was about whether taxes on individuals, businesses and construction increase or decrease productivity.
The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Hume. There's no need to go through the question again. I will draw the minister to your question.
Senator GALLAGHER: Senator Hume wasn't specific about whose taxes, because Senator Bragg, on Braggy's big day out—that's what we're calling it over here: Braggy's big day out with the microphone. And everyone else—'Oh, God. What's he going to say?' Senator Hume: I'll just say it again: relevance to taxes on businesses, individuals or construction increasing or lowering productivity.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hume, it's not an indulgence during a point of order to restate or make other points. I have, as you heard, drawn the minister back to your question, and I'll continue to listen carefully to the answer. That requires all senators to listen in respectful silence.
Senator GALLAGHER: We're hoping that Senator Bragg gets another spot next week at the Press Club. We'd all come down to have a listen. On the question, as Senator Hume knows, because she sat in the estimates hearings, Treasury's advice is that the decisions in this budget support the productivity assumptions out there.
(Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Hume, second supplementary?