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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Minister, what does the Albanese Labor government define as mortgage stress?

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

Thank you, Senator McGrath, for your question. This government understands the pressure that ordinary working Australians are under in terms of their mortgage, and that's especially so since the decision of the independent Reserve Bank to increase interest rates by 25 basis points yesterday. What this government is trying to do is to help those people out by putting downward pressure on interest rates. I can only say it so many times, Senator McGrath, but the reality is that the fact that we were able to deliver the first budget surplus in 15 years is one of the ways in which we are trying to help—

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

Minister Farrell, resume your seat. Senator McGrath, a point of order?

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

It's on direct relevance. The question was very specifically about how the Albanese Labor government defines mortgage stress. The minister has not gone anywhere near the definition of mortgage stress. I'd ask you to draw him back to the question.

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

I will draw the minister to the question. Thank you, Senator McGrath.

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

Well, I will go there, because we do understand that Australians have—

Senator Ruston interjecting—

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

Senator Ruston, those constant interjections are disorderly. I just had Senator McGrath on his feet asking me to direct the minister to the question, which I did do. But you know that your interjections can also be something the minister responds to. So you can't have it both ways, and I've asked you to discontinue interjecting.

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

She's giving you some time, Don!

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

With all due respect, Senator Birmingham, I don't need time. I understand—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What percentage of your income to do you spend on your mortgage?

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

You keep—

I do answer your questions. You may not like the way I answer your questions.

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

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Order across the chamber!

Senator Cash, I just called order. That includes you. Senator Birmingham, on a point of order?

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

I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. Yes, interjections may occur in the chamber. I, as a minister, answered plenty of questions with interjections occurring across the chamber. You still answer the question. If it would help the minister, perhaps he can read the highlighted words from Wayne Swan, 'Mortgage stress is when household are paying more than 30 per cent of their income.' Try reading it out, Don.

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

Order! Senator Birmingham, stunts are also out of order. I have directed the minister to the question. Senator Birmingham, I'm responding to your point of order. What you did as a minister was your choice. If there are interjections, ministers can choose to ignore them, as obviously you did, or they can choose to answer them. The chamber nevertheless should be listening in silence. Senator O'Neill.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, just in light of the way in which the Senate has—

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

Senator, why are you on your feet?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order because there's been debate about standards today. My point of order goes to the standard of making a speech about standards and then physically throwing a document across the table. It's inappropriate. The senator should apologise.

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

Order across the chamber! Senator O'Neill, you are not running this chamber; I am. I have addressed that issue. There was not a point of order there. I'm going back to Senator Farrell and ask him to direct his answer to the question.

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

If you want to answer your own questions then why bother to ask me the questions?

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

Senator McGrath, a first supplementary?

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

Minister, how many Australian households are currently experiencing mortgage stress and how many more will as a result of yet another interest rate increase under Labor?

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

I thank Senator McGrath for his first supplementary question. Look, I don't think I can make it any clearer than I have already made it. We understand that—

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're incapable.

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

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Scarr, I would ask you to withdraw that personal reflection.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

Minister Farrell, please continue.

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

I actually didn't hear it but thank you for—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Turn up your hearing aids.

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

Oh, give us a break. Look, we do understand the pressure that ordinary Australians are under as a result of these rising interest rates. If you hadn't mismanaged the economy so badly, so badly, under the nine years that you were part of the former—

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

Senator McGrath, on a point of order?

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

I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. The question was very tightly written. It goes to how many households are currently experiencing mortgage stress. It's asking for a number. The minister is not going near the question. I ask you to direct him back to the question, please.

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

I will direct the minister to the question. Minister.

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

Well, I can only reiterate time and time again we understand the problem of higher interest rates. We understand the problem. We're seeking to do things in the economy that we have control of— (Time expired)

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

Senator McGrath, a second supplementary?

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

Does the Albanese Labor government accept responsibility for increasing mortgage stress, and will it apologise to those Australian households?

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

I think it's worthwhile to note that, of course, the Reserve Bank is an independent organisation in this country. It was an independent organisation when you were in government, and it's an independent organisation when we are in government, and we aren't proposing to change that situation. The decisions that they make are the decisions of an independent organisation. They are not in the control—

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

Senator McGrath?

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

I'm reluctant to do this, but I raise a point of order on direct relevance. The question once again was very tightly written and asked whether the government accepted responsibility and whether it would apologise. I ask if you could direct the minister back to answering the question, particularly in relation to the apology.

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

I think in that regard the minister is being directly relevant, because he's made reference to other bodies that are responsible.

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

On this occasion the answer does speak volumes: they accept no responsibility.

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

Senator Birmingham!

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

I'm not sure what's got into Senator Birmingham today, but he is now interrupting constantly in respect of every answer that I give. I don't know— (Time expired)