Senator LAZARUS (Queensland—Leader of the Palmer United Party in the Senate) (14:46): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Australia's Defence Force personnel cannot be paid enough. These people are putting their lives on the line to keep our country safe. Offering a pay increase of only 1.5 per cent per year is effectively a pay reduction as inflation is running at around three per cent. This means the pay of our Defence personnel—diggers, airmen and sailors—will not keep up with the cost of living, yet I understand that most senior officers of the Australian Defence Force received pay increases of up to 40 per cent over the last two years. The PRESIDENT: Senator Lazarus, your time has expired. I did not hear a question there. I will be guided if the senator is happy for you to quickly put a question to that preamble. That is a warning to all senators not to have a long preamble if you wish to get your question asked. Senator Lazarus. Senator LAZARUS: Senator Johnston, could you please explain why you are cutting the pay of our Defence personnel and yet giving significant pay increases to senior Defence Force officers?