QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:48): In the budget, the National Resilience and Science Council was established, and it will be legislated. It will direct the work of Australia's research and development, our commercialisation capability and our industrial policy. We will deliver legislation to the parliament in the normal way.

It is a mobilisation effort to harness our national research and development capacity in the Commonwealth, in the states and in the university sector and point them at Australia's big challenges. Senator, you might find it offensive to have somebody say to you that what you do is complain and not deliver, but you find it perfectly fine, including in your contributions earlier today— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ayres, address your comments through the chair.

Senator AYRES: to cast inferences, President, and are shocked when people respond. We announced in the budget a bigger and bolder initiative than the one that you talked about just then. (Time expired)