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

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. As you have ruled before on several occasions, it is not proper for ministers to comment on the questions. The question that Senator Cormann asked had three parts, and each was directed to an inquiry as to whether Treasury—whom this minister represents here—took into consideration certain international comparators. She has not approached the question. She has done nothing but indicate that she is not prepared to answer the question because she asserts it should have been addressed to another minister. The fact is that only this minister can tell the Senate what Treasury took into account.