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) (14:48): I thank Senator Roberts for the question. I think that's the second week in a row you've had Senator Babet's question. I wonder where—you lucky guy!

I wonder where the ghost of the Senate is. We never see him anymore, do we? I noticed he did launch a clothing range a few days ago though, so he had time to do that.

Senator Roberts interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I will draw the minister to your question, Senator Roberts. Senator GALLAGHER: As Senator Roberts will know, unemployment is at historically at low levels, sitting at 4½ per cent. In recent times, over the data sets, participation rates have been historically high, including for women.

We've got the gender pay gap at record lows. We've got employment at 14.8 million, so we've created 1.3 million jobs since coming to government. Women are employed full time at much higher rates—4.1 million.

We've got industrial disputes down. We've got annual wage growth over three per cent. So I think, on any measure, when you look at how the labour market is performing, Senator Roberts, it is being pretty resilient against the backdrop of global uncertainty and all of the risks that come with that.

The Australian economy has actually fared very well in terms of job numbers, in terms of the participation rate, in terms of wages and in terms of the number of jobs that have been created under this government. The PRESIDENT: Senator Roberts, first supplementary?