Mr FITZGIBBON —Can the Prime Minister inform the House of the Government's wages policy following its recent discussions with the peak business councils and the Australian Council of Trade Unions?

Mr HAWKE —I am glad to be able to answer a question on economic policy, which naturally enough would come from this side of the House. The Government believes that in the current economic circumstances it is necessary and desirable to revamp the system of wages fixation which has served this country so well in the past three years.

Mr Tuckey —On a point of order, Madam Speaker: I draw your attention to standing order 144. We have here a request for an announcement of Government policy. Paragraph (b) of the second part of standing order 144 says that questions should not ask Ministers to announce Government policy.

Madam SPEAKER —Order! There is no point of order. The Prime Minister has been asked for information. He is giving it.

Mr Tuckey —Madam Speaker, on a further point of order, if the Prime Minister would sit down--

Madam SPEAKER —The Chair will direct the Prime Minister, not the honourable member for O'Connor.

Mr Tuckey —Madam Speaker, the question requested that Government policy be announced. If the questioner cannot get it right, that is not my fault. He did not ask for information.

Madam SPEAKER —The question is in order. The honourable member will resume his seat.

Mr HAWKE —In seeking to get a revamping of the system of wages fixation, the Government will seek to continue to get modest wage outcomes consistent with the capacity of the economy to pay, the need to preserve our international competitiveness and our need to maintain growth in jobs. But it is also important that it be understood that in seeking those outcomes we will be seeking a fair wages system which protects lower paid workers and their families. So in those circumstances it can be seen that the wages policy of this Government is fair, responsible and realistic.

In all those respects it stands in stark contrast to the wages policy of the Leader of the Opposition. That wages policy is nothing more nor less than hocus-pocus. It is a further example of the absolute bankruptcy of the Leader of the Opposition when it comes to economic policy. He peddles this conjurer's potion, at one and the same time talking about a decentralised wages system and a wages freeze.

The Leader of the Opposition is simply insulting the intelligence of the Australian people by believing that he can con them into accepting a proposition which talks at the same time about a decentralised wage fixing system and a wage freeze. But even more insulting than that is the fact that he is peddling himself as the champion of Australian families, when he is talking about no pay rise for Australian families for a period of 18 months. How can he be talking about himself as a champion of Australian families when he wants a wages freeze for 18 months?

I suggest to those who are looking at the Leader of the Opposition as the champion of the families that they might recall that in the past decade he has opposed any wage increase in 18 out of 20 national wage cases. On only two occasions in the past 10 years has he supported any increase in wages.

In not one area of economic management does the Leader of the Opposition have a policy which adds up. His wages policy does not add up, his fiscal policy does not add up and his family policy does not add up. I think one could say that the only thing on the Opposition side that is beginning to add up is the numbers against the Leader of the Opposition.

Madam SPEAKER —I wish to make an explanation to the honourable member for O'Connor so that the matter he raised is clear. Standing order 144 says that questions should not ask Ministers to announce government policy but may seek an explanation regarding the policy of the Government.