QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:32): I was going through the measures in the budget which are about pushing forward on productivity, which has been a challenge for governments of both political persuasions for some years. You might recall that, in fact, productivity went backwards under the Morrison government— Senator Hume: It didn't go backwards.

Senator Cash: No, it didn't. Senator WONG: Actually, it did four times: December 2018, March 2020, June 2020 and September 2021. So my point is that, if we can move away from perhaps the sorts of politics that you're trying to engage in here, I think we all agree productivity is important for the country because it is about future growth.

That is why we have— Senator McKenzie: You have done nothing on productivity since the roundtable. Senator Cash: During COVID, apparently. Senator McKenzie: The mythical productivity roundtable.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Senators Cash and McKenzie, it's not a chat between the two of you. The Minister was on her feet trying to answer a question without interference.

Senator WONG: That is why the budget includes the four packages I've described in relation to investment and innovation, red tape, barriers to trade and a single national market. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Blyth, second supplementary?