Senator STERLE (Western Australia) (14:56): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to Senate estimates when the defence minister said he did not attend a National Security Committee meeting because he—and I quote—'was not going to add much'. Can the minister confirm that his inability to add much is also the view of his fellow members of the NSC? The PRESIDENT: Senator Sterle, I am going to give you the opportunity to reword your question. That was a reflection upon the minister. Senator Conroy interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! It was a reflection on the minister. It does not just have to be words; it can be the way it is implied and given in the question. So, Senator Sterle, you have the opportunity to reword your supplementary question. Senator Wong: On a point of order, Mr President, perhaps to seek some guidance. The quote that Senator Sterle put to the minister is a quote of the minister. I am not sure which bit you would like us to reword. Perhaps we could get some guidance from the chair. The PRESIDENT: It was not the quote; that is on the record. It was the way he phrased the question. It impugned upon the minister. Senator Sterle, you can ask the question. Senator Conroy interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy, I do not need your assistance. Senator STERLE: I will start with the quote from the minister, in Senate estimates, when he said he did attend the national security meeting when he was asked. And in his words, he answered—because I was in the room, Mr President—that he 'was not going to add much'. I just want to confirm if that is the opinion of the rest of his committee, the NSC. There is nothing hard about that. The PRESIDENT: In that case, your question is out of order because he cannot give an opinion of someone else's opinion. The question is out of order, Senator Sterle. Do you have a final supplementary question?