Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Once again, this is a completely spurious point of order based on an insistence by those opposite that you instruct Senator Ludwig and other ministers on how to answer the question. They are clearly standing up and saying, ‘The answer is yes, no or sit down.’ Mr President, that is clearly not within your powers. This is a completely spurious press release. Senator Ludwig could not have been more relevant to the question, if those opposite could hear him over the cacophony of noise that they are engaged in. This was clearly relevant and they are asking you to break standing orders by directing the minister to say yes or no.