QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:01): Thank you very much. I was trying to understand if the assertion was that I had said it or if the senator was referring to what the Prime Minister said. I would say first that I will refer to you to the Prime Minister's answers in the other place, where he has detailed—and I'm sure will have the opportunity again today to detail—responses to some of these questions.

I'm going to also respond to the assertion in that question about the grant and the grant being given. I just want to say this. What we have here is the delivery of an election commitment.

I'd make the point to those opposite that election commitments— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator WONG: I would make the point to those opposite that the Audit Office has said that a properly designed and administered grants program is the— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston? Senator Ruston: On a matter of— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I'm very sorry, Senator Ruston.

I can't hear a word you're saying. Senator Ruston: On relevance, I was simply asking whether the Prime Minister misled the parliament. The PRESIDENT: The minister is being relevant to your question, and I'll continue to listen carefully.

Senator O'Sullivan: On a point of order, Senator Ayres has a prop. The PRESIDENT: Senator Ayres, perhaps you could just put it down in the interests of the chamber. Thank you.

Senator WONG: Are those your election commitments? You're very sensitive about them, if so. You're very sensitive about your election commitments.

How interesting that you were so sensitive about that! I didn't actually notice. I did not actually notice that he had them, but now I understand the sensitivity.

The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Ruston? Senator Ruston: I'm just seeking clarification from you, President, as to whether the minister is responding to the point of order that was raised by Senator O'Sullivan, in which case I'd ask for the clock to be reset, so maybe she might answer my question.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, the minister was continuing her answer, and I am going to draw the minister back to your question. Senator WONG: What I was saying is that this is the delivery of an election commitment that was transparently made and transparently committed to. The Audit Office has said a properly designed and administered grants program is the— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston?

Senator Ruston: President, with the greatest amount of respect, the minister's answer is not relevant to the question I asked. The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, I beg to differ. The minister is being relevant to your question, and I'll continue to listen carefully.

Senator WONG: An assertion about 'given' was made in the question. I'm entitled to respond to that, and that is what I'm doing. I again say the Auditor-General has said properly designed and administered grants programs are the way governments can deliver their election commitments.

That is what we did. They've also indicated that grants to deliver election commitments should follow proper processes in accordance with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles, and that is what we did. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, first supplementary?