QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:15): As Senator Hume said, there is a long-run assumption as to productivity, which is at 1.2 per cent. My recollection is that was revised down in the first term of government, which reflected Treasury advice. I would again make the point that I have made—that productivity has been challenging for governments across the board.

In fact, as I said, for some seven consecutive quarters productivity growth fell under the coalition in the lead-up to the pandemic. We do know we have more work to do as a country when it comes to productivity, and I think you are seeing, in the context, particularly, of AI and the work that not only Treasurer Chalmers is doing but Minister Ayres is doing, that we are very focused on this.

Minister Gallagher and the regulation agenda obviously has a— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Hume, second supplementary?