Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order, this is the second time that Senator Abetz has stood up and taken a point of order. The first was about Senator Conroy. He asked ‘directly relevant’ to be reviewed by yourself. Now he is asking again. On both occasions, including this occasion, in respect of the question asked, Senator Carr was answering the question and was directly relevant. One of the difficulties is that Senator Abetz does not raise the reason why he says the answer is not relevant. He simply invites you to look at it, without an argument to ground the reasons behind why he says it is not relevant. Therefore, it is very difficult, I would submit, for you to be able to rule that way or to reflect upon it as part of the review process without Senator Abetz at least putting forward a direct reason as to why. I would ask you to determine that it is not a point of order.