Mr CREAN —My question is directed to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister seen today's ACCI-Westpac survey which shows a collapse in manufacturing business confidence, the weakest reading in export expectation in six years and less jobs in the sector? Prime Minister, will you now confirm that your complacency and failure to act on the Asian economic crisis, together with the cuts to significant export programs, are leading this nation to lower economic activity, lower exports and fewer jobs?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —I thought Gareth was good.

Mr Costello —You're making Gareth look competent!

Mr HOWARD —That is not a bad achievement; that is a very considerable achievement.

The member for Hotham is engaging in that age old Labor Party tactic: you talk gloom and doom. You talk the Australian economy down. He invites me to talk about employment. I will talk about employment: employment has risen by 145,000 in the last four months. I will talk about investment: business investment in Australia is running at record levels. I will talk about inflation: inflation in Australia is the lowest of any country in the OECD. I will talk about rate of economic growth: our rate of economic growth is equal to or better than any member country of the G7. Let me warm to the task. Let me talk about interest rates.

Mr Crean —Mr Speaker, under standing order 144, my point of order goes to relevance.

Mr SPEAKER —Standing order 145 is relevance.

Mr Crean —I thank you for making me relevant, Mr Speaker.

Government members —Sit down!

Mr Reith —Mr Speaker—

Mr SPEAKER —There is a point of order being taken. I cannot interrupt that point of order to hear yours.

Mr Crean —My point of order goes to relevance. I did ask about those aspects but I asked about them in the context of the manufacturing sector and a survey released today. The Prime Minister has made no mention of it and I would ask you to draw his attention to it.

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member for Hotham will resume his seat.

Mr Ross Cameron —Mr Speaker, my point of order goes to the question of relevance. You cannot on the one hand ask a question which is wide ranging, has a lengthy introductory statement and invites debate and then complain about lack of relevance and specificity in the minister's response.

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member will resume his seat. The Prime Minister will resume his answer. The Prime Minister's answer is entirely relevant and entirely within the standing orders of this place.

Mr HOWARD —Of course it is relevant. Having dealt with employment, having dealt with investment, having dealt with inflation, having dealt with growth, let me deal with interest rates. In just over two years, interest rates have fallen by the equivalent of $300 a month for the average home buyer in Australia. I know that nobody opposite likes to be reminded of this, but that is the equivalent of a wage rise of $100 a week for the average worker—$100 a week for the average worker.

As a result of that, the great majority of the Australian people are simply not going to listen to this talking down of the Australian economy. They are not going to listen to this doomsday talk from those who sit opposite. They are going to recognise quality economic management when they see it.