QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:14): The Prime Minister has been upfront with the Australian people. He held a press conference. I'd invite you to read the transcript of that press conference, but if we want to talk about arrangements perhaps we could ask Senator Hanson and Senator Cash to talk about the partnership between the coalition and One Nation that Senator Hanson speaks about and that members of your party speak about.

You want to be upfront about— The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg? Senator Bragg: The point of order is on relevance—whether the government can defend its position that institutions should have a preference over individuals. The PRESIDENT: The minister was being relevant to your question, but I also advise the chamber that there— Senator Bragg: No, she wasn't.

She was talking about One Nation. The PRESIDENT: I would think, Senator Bragg, that, when you stand up and ask me for a point of order, you would at least have the courtesy and the respect to not interject when I rule on it. I was going to advise the chamber that there were so many interjections that I could barely hear Senator Wong.

She began by being relevant, and then I could not hear what she was saying because of the loudness, particularly from my left but not only from my left—also from my right. I will listen carefully, Senator Bragg, and, if the minister isn't being relevant, I'll remind her to be relevant. Senator Wong.

Senator WONG: You see, Senator Bragg believes that the status quo on all fronts is working. We can see that because he, along with his coalition colleagues, has consistently voted no to all change. Senator Gallagher reminds me that you voted against changes to superannuation.

You propose to vote against tax cuts. You don't want to listen to what Mr Murray said or what the Council of Financial Regulators said, because you just defend the status quo. That is what you think is the way forward.

We don't. We think change is necessary, and we look forward to the passage of legislation tomorrow, which will be good for Australians. (Time expired)