Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

On the point of order, Mr President, the question clearly went to the actions and the views of the Prime Minister in an attempt to try and score some sort of cheap political point. If he wanted to ask about the actions of the Prime Minister then the question should have been directed to me as the minister representing the Prime Minister.

Mr President, you have been very generous in allowing the senator the chance to rephrase the question that the tactics committee handed him. I am surprised that he used it given how poor the question was and how low the motives behind it are. The appropriate point is, if you have been that generous then Senator Colbeck ought to rephrase the question if he is genuinely interested in manufacturing policy.