Senator GEORGE CAMPBELL (3:21 PM) —I have listened intently to the contribution made by Senator Watson. It appears from that contribution that Senator Ray would have been better informed if he had asked the question of Senator Watson rather than Senator Kemp. At least there would have been some understanding of the answer instead of the waffle that we were treated to just over half an hour ago in Senator Kemp's response.

I think it is worth while making the point to the Australian public that Senator Kemp is, in fact, the Assistant Treasurer. That is the position he holds in this government—although the public could be forgiven for wondering whether that is the case. You certainly would not get that understanding from listening to the answers that Senator Kemp gives to questions in this chamber or the contribution he makes to debate on economic issues. In responding to questions, I must say that he is very good at answering anything but the question actually asked of him.

Senator Kemp is very good at obfuscating the issues. He is very good at understanding what is happening in the Labor Party, or reading what snippets might be in the newspapers that morning. But, when it comes to dealing with issues that fall under his portfolio and issues that are of importance in economic terms to the Australian people, then he seems to suffer—suffer very significantly—from lack of memory or selective memory. In fact, one would argue that, in many instances when dealing with economic issues, his memory borders on amnesia.

Over the past two weeks of the parliamentary sitting we, as an opposition, have asked some 20-odd questions and 20-odd supplementary questions of Senator Kemp. Senator Kemp, in response to those questions, has demonstrated a significant inability to explain: what the powers of the ACCC will be over profiteers after GST changes; whether banking fees will attract the GST; the application of the GST on discounted books and its impact on independent booksellers; the impact of the GST on the sale of farms; the impact of the GST on housing; the GST as it relates to bank charges and EFTPOS fees; the collection of superannuation charges; whether claimed industry savings of $10 billion will be passed; the level of input credits that will be GST free; the GST as it applies to private tuition and public school charges; the effect on the CPI of GST-induced house price rises; fringe benefits tax on group certificates; and a host of other issues that have been raised by the opposition in the past week or so. It is no wonder that Senator Kemp is known around this building as `Senator Waffle'.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! Would you please refer to the minister by his correct title.

Senator GEORGE CAMPBELL —Senator Kemp is well known around this building by his nickname—in fact, better known by his nickname than by his title of Assistant Treasurer. Senator Ray in his contribution asked what Senator Kemp does: does he look at the ceiling; does he talk to people in his department; does he take advice on issues relevant to his portfolio?

Senator Calvert —He just helps the economy. No help from you lot.

Senator GEORGE CAMPBELL —There would have to be a significant question mark over that. But it would seem that he does not have much to do with the Irish-Australia Association, and he certainly was not much help to Senator Calvert in his quest to be re-elected president of that organisation last night. Senator Kemp, it would appear, probably spends most of his time in the Treasurer's office, making the tea, taking the biscuits backward and forward into the Treasurer's office and having tete-a-tetes with the Treasurer.

It is very obvious that the Treasurer does not take Senator Kemp into his confidence. The Treasurer certainly has not taken him into his confidence with any of the key issues that are of importance to the Australian public in terms of the introduction of a goods and services tax—because Senator Kemp has demonstrated his inability to deal with those questions in this chamber. (Time expired)