QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator SHARMA (New South Wales) (14:02): Far from confecting a diplomatic issue, Japan's former ambassador to Australia wrote only yesterday: The last thing she expected was to be so casually mocked by the trusted leader of Japan's special strategic partner. Minister, do you agree the comments were unacceptable and unworthy of an Australian prime minister? The PRESIDENT: Before I call Minister Wong, I'm going to remind those particularly on my right that Senator Sharma had the right to ask his question in silence.