Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

On the point of order, previous rulings by past presidents have indicated that, while glancing references to the positions of oppositions or previous governments may be relevant, ministers should not, when they are answering a question, go directly to the position of previous governments or the position of oppositions. This minister did, when she rose to her feet, go instantly not to talking about the government, not to responding to Senator Hume's question but instead to answering about the opposition. The minister should be drawn to the question when she does that.