QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (15:26): If I can just finish my previous answer— Senator Shoebridge: No. Senator WONG: Actually, it's not up to you, Senator Shoebridge. I know you like to tell everyone what to do in this place.
Senator Shoebridge: I have a point of order, which is that the minister is required to be relevant to the question she's been asked. She can't choose her own adventure. The relevance is to the question the minister has just been asked.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Shoebridge, to be fair, the interjections started the minute the minister stood. She has not begun to address the question. I will invite Minister Wong to continue.
Senator WONG: I will get to that, if I could finish my answer without interruption. I give you a commitment I will get to the response on that. Senator Allman-Payne: You're just making it up!
The PRESIDENT: Senator Allman-Payne, I indicated to you yesterday that I will name you. I've had to call you and call you and call you. You are being absolutely disrespectful to me and this chamber, and I will name you if you won't be quiet.
Minister Wong, please continue. Senator WONG: The point I was making is that Senator Shoebridge and the Greens political party don't like the answer because the facts don't suit the Greens' outrage machine. They don't suit your outrage machine.
The fact that they happen to be the truth is an inconvenient fact for you. In relation to Lebanon, I have been very clear that we are gravely concerned about the expansion of the conflict into Lebanon. We are deeply concerned about the loss of life and the displacement of more than a million citizens, including over 200,000 children.
We have announced a further $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians in Lebanon. We have said a major Israeli ground offensive will only exacerbate the worsening— Senator Shoebridge interjecting— Senator WONG: I'm answering your question. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Shoebridge, a second supplementary?