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

Mr President, on that point of order, what we have had from the opposition, in the taking of that point of order, is a traverse across a range of complaints that that opposition spokesperson may have. What this minister has been doing is answering the question that has been asked. The question was asked in a number of parts, including more than simply about transparency. So those opposite do not have the opportunity to reframe the question but should, if they are going to take a point of order, take a proper point of order and raise the particular issue. My submission is that there is no point of order being raised. The minister has been answering the question. The difficulty, from the opposition’s perspective, is that they want a specific answer to a specific question but they are not entitled to that. They are entitled to ask a question and have an answer that is relevant to the question asked.