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

Mr President, on the point of order: Senator Evans is being directly relevant to the question. He is not required to answer a predetermined question from the opposition. What he can do is answer the question. That does not mean that they can formulate a question which suggests an answer—either yes or no—and then require him to respond positively to the proposition. What Senator Evans can do is directly answer the question in a way that informs the parliament and in a way that ensures that he is being directly relevant.