QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:35): What I would say, Senator, is it is the case that— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order across the chamber! Senator WONG: I would make the point that inflation is substantially less than when we came to office, but it is also the case that inflation remains a challenge in the economy, and the government is very conscious of that.

And it is a— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order across the chamber! Senator WONG: I would again say that, yes, inflation is higher than we of course would like it to be. It is higher globally.

Honourable senators interjecting— Senator WONG: Oh, dear. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Watt: It's Jane's question, Bridget.

The PRESIDENT: I'll remind you, Senator Watt, that Minister Wong is answering the question. Minister, please continue. Senator WONG: Thank you.

I remind those opposite that, as I was saying, many economies across the global economy—and particularly the advanced, industrialised economies—are experiencing inflation. Inflation has been stubbornly high, in part because we have seen the ongoing effects— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Hume, second supplementary?