Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong, I'm trying to listen to your colleague on her feet.

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Order, both of you!

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order on my left! Senator Gallagher, the point of order you raise in relation to direct relevance doesn't hold, because the minister directly answered the question by not just saying he could not confirm but reiterating that he would not confirm the question asked by Senator McAllister. The up-front question was, 'Would you confirm?' He absolutely denied that he would confirm. Then, as is always the practice, ministers can enhance their answer providing they stay on topic, and the minister was on topic. So there is no point of order.