QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:36): Senator McDonald, one of the rules of politics is that you try not to play the US relationship into your domestic politics. Seriously. You really should be following that, because the US relationship matters more than some domestic politics about environmental reform.

If those opposite are serious— Senator Ruston: President, as a point of order on direct relevance on the answers to both the last question and this question, the senator asked only a very specific and narrow question around whether an issue was raised. The Leader of the Government in the Senate seems to think that it is much more interesting to— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, it doesn't need commentary.

The minister is being relevant to the question. Senator McKim: Tell us about the rules! Senator WONG: I know the Greens political party don't support the alliance, but the alliance between the United States and Australia is critical to our national security.

So we have differences and we manage them. We have agreement and we further that. But what we don't do is what they continue to do, which is to try and play some domestic politics when we see an agreement that is good for the country and that is in the spirit of the alliance.

It is about time they backed it in. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Henderson interjecting— Senator Shoebridge interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Shoebridge, which part of me calling for order doesn't apply to you?

You were incredibly disrespectful—as were you, Senator Henderson, after I called for order at least four times. Senator McDonald, second supplementary?