George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The question specifically asked whether tenders had been let or contractors engaged. That is the only thing that the question was addressed to. From 15 seconds into her answer to the question until now—in other words, most of the time that she has been on her feet—the minister has been criticising the opposition for things it was alleged to have done when it was in government. That can on no rational view be regarded as a direct answer to the question, ‘Have you let tenders?’ Mr President, I draw your attention to standing order 73(iii). The test is not whether a minister is responding to the question but whether the minister is answering the question. To respond to the question is a different thing than to answer the question. The minister’s obligation under the standing orders is to answer the question.