Senator JOHNSTON (Western Australia—Minister for Defence) (14:29): I do not have at my fingertips the schedule and timetable of the various departmental officers' visitations to Japan—or any other country for that matter. Senior officials in the Defence Department, of their own discretion, can visit countries around the world in pursuit of Australia's best interests in terms of defence capability. We have signed with the Japanese a defence technology exchange agreement and, in the preparation of that agreement, there were a number of meetings with our friends in Japan. There have of course been meetings with a broad range of people— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator JOHNSTON: Mr President, I cannot hear myself think in the face of this incessant nagging and cackle. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left and on my right! Minister. Senator JOHNSTON: With respect to AUKMIN, AUSMIN and visitations to Singapore, Japan and South Korea we— The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy, you have a point of order? Senator Conroy: Yes, on relevance. Mr President, there were two questions asked of the minister. The second question was: 'Can he confirm that a member of the Prime Minister's staff participated in those discussions?' The minister has made no attempt, with only 30-odd seconds left, to answer that part of the question. The PRESIDENT: At the commencement of the minister's answer he indicated that he did not have the schedule to confirm— Senator Conroy interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy, you have raised a point of order and I am giving a ruling on the point of order. The minister was directly relevant to both of your questions by indicating that he did not have the schedule and he could not confirm out of the schedule—and he is enhancing his answer, which he has the right to do. Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President— The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, I really do not need assistance but if there is something that you need to add to this— Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, my point of order is very important. I am desperately trying to hear the minister because I am very interested in his response. But we keep hearing the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition screeching, nagging and yelling and I simply cannot hear the minister. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Before I call the minister I remind all senators that interjections are disorderly. Senator Wong, you have a point of order? Senator Wong: Mr President, in terms of your answer to Senator Conroy, the question in fact did go to a member of the Prime Minister's staff. The answer that the schedule of meetings of officials is not something the minister recalls is not relevant to that aspect of the question. So I would invite you to consider that in light of your ruling. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Wong, but the question did ask whether the minister could confirm that a member of the Prime Minister's staff attended. The minister directly answered that question at the commencement of his answer by saying he did not have a schedule of all the visits to all countries. I thought he was quite conclusive with his direct response—and he is enhancing his answer. Minister, you have the call. Senator JOHNSTON: Further to what I have said, if the learned senator had any understanding of defence capability acquisition he would know that we are currently in the process of acquiring ships from both Spain and South Korea. Accordingly, Defence officials visit those places on many occasions. We are also acquiring a lot of capability from the United States. There are Defence officials visiting these countries every week of every month of every year.