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) (14:59): Well, I think what the Australian community see is a government that takes— Senator McKenzie: What about your backbench? The PRESIDENT: Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat.

Seriously, Senator McKenzie, you need to come to order. Minister Gallagher, please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: The government takes responsibility for the challenges we see across the economy, makes decisions in the national interest whether it be about cost-of-living help, whether it be about savings in the budget, whether it be lowering the interest rate on the debt that we inherited from those opposite who, again, let that gallop away—just like you let inflation gallop away— Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order!

Minister, please resume your seat. I've just called Senator McKenzie to order. That doesn't mean, Senator McGrath, that it's your opportunity to interject, being rude and disorderly.

Minister, please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: That's why we support tax cuts when you vote against them. That's why we support wage increases when you voted against them.

So you come in here and cry your crocodile tears about being worried about Australian households, when you've done nothing in this chamber to help any Australian household with the decisions that you have made and that you are responsible for. We will continue to make decisions in our country's economic interests and acknowledge that people are under pressure at the same time, and we will continue to respond to that.

The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong? Senator Wong: I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.