QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator HUME (Victoria—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): Minister, in Labor circles, you are a role model to women. You are not merely a member of the government; you are also the Leader of the Government in the Senate. When the Prime Minister appointed you to that position, was it part of your job description that you had to defend his sexist comments and gestures and not tell the truth to this Senate and to the Australian people?