Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. In how many consecutive quarters has Australia's GDP per capita declined?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hume for the question. It is not uncommon from quarter to quarter for the per capita measure to move in that direction. In fact, it has gone backwards one in every four quarters since these records began about 50 years ago, or 48 times out of the last 199 quarters. There is no doubt, though, that in today's numbers—and the Treasurer dealt with this in his press conference earlier today—that we are seeing the impact of higher interest rates, high-but-moderating inflation, which is welcome, and some of the impacts of global uncertainty. We have been clear and upfront with people about those challenges and the impacts it is having on households, which is why our cost-of-living package, most of which those opposite opposed, has been so important to support households through this. But at the same time, we have seen a rebound in population growth which has been driven by the reopening of our economy post COVID and this very significant return of international students in particular, which is showing up in the services exports numbers and that is good news of course for our education and tourism sectors. While we are seeing international students are returning to more normal levels following the pandemic, we are still not expecting to see net overseas migration catch up to the level forecast by the coalition government prior to the pandemic until the end of the decade. I think, in short, the answer to the question is we have seen—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, on a point of order?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance, I just asked how many quarters consecutively that Australia's GDP per capita has declined.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe the minister is being—

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In a minute and a half, we haven't got there yet.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She has answered back to the time records were held, but I am happy to draw your question to the minister.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have made the point in the answer to my question that it is not uncommon to see these numbers move around quarter to quarter. In fact, we have seen them move quite significantly. In almost a quarter out of all of the quarters reported, we have seen these numbers move around. You do see quarters of negative per capita growth since these numbers have been recorded.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a first supplementary?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, what has productivity changed by in the June quarter and what do today's national accounts show that it has changed by throughout the last financial year?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Frankly, I am surprised that Senator Hume would ask a question about productivity when the decade that they were in government saw the worst productivity growth in the last 60 years—in the last 60 years! The decade that you were in power had the worst productivity growth that we have seen. It was, on average, 1.1 per cent per annum for the decade you were responsible and you failed to deal with the challenges to productivity growth. We knew you were trying to keep wages low—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Birmingham?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order, President, on direct relevance. Senator Hume has asked about the productivity changes in the June quarter and over the last year. It's all very well for the minister to talk about the previous decade, but she's happy to claim the budget surplus for the last year so how about the government takes responsibility for the productivity figures for the last year?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, the last part of what you were claiming was a debating point. Minister Farrell?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order: I think that the minister is directly answering the question that she was asked, and I think she should be allowed to continue to answer that question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister Farrell. The minister has just started her answer. I will listen, and if she's not—

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She only has 18 seconds left!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, if you've called the point of order I would expect you to listen to my response in silence. Is this another point of order?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's another point of order, President: fairness. It's a further point of order, on your ruling. Sometimes it's reasonable to point out that the clock has only elapsed a short period of time. On this occasion, the clock has elapsed 42 out of the 60 seconds so in fairness, President, if we're going to draw the minister's attention to the question it needs to happen now if she is to have time to actually answer the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order: the minister has been answering the question directly and every time Senator Birmingham interrupts it's less time to answer that question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Farrell. I am going to allow the minister to continue, Senator Birmingham, and I will listen carefully to her continued response. Minister.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. The point I was making is that we do have a productivity challenge in our economy; that's reflected in the national accounts. But it's reflected in the economy that we inherited from those opposite, who didn't do the things they needed to do in skills, in reconstruction, in investments in IT and in supporting employees. For all of these things we're having to fix up your mess— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a second supplementary.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's two questions that the finance minister has been unable to answer. Economists universally agree that Labor's industrial relations reforms will further hurt productivity; that decisions such as the rejection of additional Qatar Airways flights hurt competition; and that the Albanese Labor government's policies are making a weakening economy weaker. How much poorer will Australians be and how many jobs will be lost as Labor's policies drive Australia deeper into a per capita recession?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much for that, and for the statement from Senator Hume. We are very confident—and it doesn't surprise me that we have criticism of our industrial relations policy, because we know that those opposite wanted to keep wages low—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Don't you start talking about productivity! What happened under you, Senator Birmingham—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are addressing the productivity challenge and we are addressing the wages challenge that we inherited—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senators on my left—

Senator Birmingham!

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Two per cent for the June quarter—if you knew why didn't you answer it?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham! I'm calling you to order—

I've called you twice, Senator Birmingham. I would think that, as the leader, you would set—

Don't answer me back!

Opposition senators interjecting—

I called the Senate to order and I particularly called you to order. I should not have to call twice!

I called the Senate to order and the minute the minister stood the disorder started again. I am asking senators, particularly those on my left, but not exclusively, to be respectful. Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order. The leader was quite disrespectful to you just a moment ago. I think—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's the standing order?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was disrespectful to the President and you ought to apologise for your comments to the—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, please resume your seat.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! Senator McGrath and Senator Hughes! I'm asking the chamber to be respectful. Senator Farrell, I have dealt with Senator Birmingham. I call the minister to continue her answer.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. In summing up, Australia will be a much stronger country. It will have a much stronger economy from the policies that we are implementing, whether they are about addressing the productivity challenges or whether they are about addressing the wages issue that we have had in our country for more than a decade.

Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The unions will be much stronger. The CFMMEU will be much stronger, not Australian businesses.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hughes.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's no surprise that those opposite would take every last breath in their bodies to fight against working people getting fair treatment—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Hughes, I called you to order, and what did you do? You just kept interjecting. Your interjections are disorderly, and they are disrespectful to this chamber.

You as well, Senator McGrath. Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've finished my answer.