QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:38): I always find a question that starts with the premise, 'It's been put to me'—you know, where? Senator Henderson: Andrew Charlton. Andrew Charlton is going around doing dirty deals.
Senator AYRES: Senator Henderson, what you find with this government is that we are a cabinet government that works together, and he is— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister Ayres, please— Senator AYRES: I'm entitled to respond to interjections from— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Minister Ayres, order! Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order!
Order! Senator Henderson: Oh, that's disgraceful. The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, I've said, 'Order!' four times and you've continued to interject.
Either come and be quiet or leave the chamber. Senator Pocock? Senator David Pocock: President, on a point of order on relevance, I'd really like an answer to my question.
Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, resume your seat. Order! Senator Pocock, you would be aware that I did call the Senate to order and senators chose to ignore me.
As you are aware, Minister Ayres is entitled to take interjections. I am doing my very best to stop those interjections. I appreciate you standing up and making that point, and perhaps those senators will listen to you more than they will listen to me and respect that this is your question and that you are entitled to an answer from the minister.
Senator AYRES: I will come back to that, but I will just say that what I won't cop is denigrating very capable assistant ministers with expertise and background in this area who are making a real contribution. Dr Charlton does, every day. We have a rule over here about dual ticket holders.
We do. We don't put up with it. You can only be a member of one political party at a time.
The PRESIDENT: Minister Ayres, I'm going to draw you back to Senator Pocock's question. Senator AYRES: Senator Pocock, we are absolutely determined. We have set out our approach on these questions.
(Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Pocock, second supplementary?