Mr GARETH EVANS —My question is to the Treasurer. I remind him of the question he declined to answer yesterday as to how his budget can be forecasting employment growth to go up when GDP growth, private consumption and business investment are all forecast to go down? If his answer, when he gets around to giving one, is the only logically possible one—that there is going to be a major fall in productivity—how does he reconcile that with the statement in the budget papers that the economy is seeing `an improved productivity performance'? Is it the simple truth of the matter that your employment growth figure is shonky, plucked out of the air as the one necessary to get you through the election campaign by giving you an unemployment figure at the end of next June that just happens to be lower than where we are now?

Mr Ross Cameron —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order.

Mr Melham —What election date did you nominate in the sweep? They are running sweeps!

Mr SPEAKER —Will the member for Banks resume his silence.

Government members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Can I have some silence on the government benches because I cannot hear him, even if you can.

Mr Ross Cameron —The question actually infringes six different provisions of the standing orders: firstly—exactly from the member's words—it repeats a question asked in identi cal terms yesterday; secondly, it contains a lengthy introductory statement; thirdly, it contains multiple questions; fourthly, it suggests an answer; and, fifthly, it contains comment, argument and opinion. I think on the basis of those five, it ought to be ruled out of order.

Opposition members —You said six! What is the sixth?

Mr SPEAKER —Members of the opposition!

Mr Crean —Can't you count, you dummy!

Mr SPEAKER —When the members of the opposition are silent, does the member for Parramatta have a sixth?

Mr Ross Cameron —I have been asked to provide a sixth. In fact, I will provide a seventh as well. It contains an invitation to debate, and it is not a genuine press for information or for action.

Mr SPEAKER —I thank the honourable member for Parramatta. While the question certainly is reminiscent of those that are generally regarded as being in order in the other place, it was a little long and tendentious for our chamber. Nonetheless, I shall ask the Treasurer to respond.

Mr COSTELLO (Treasurer) —No.