Senator ABETZ (Tasmania—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Employment) (14:37): The levels of transparency and disclosure that apply to slush funds are dangerously low. Unlike unions, such funds are not required to publish annual financial returns. They are not required to report to union members on their activities or explain where they get their money from. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator ABETZ: You can hear the chorus of the ex-union officials. Chances are all of whom operated a slush fund. But they exist in the shadows with no scrutiny or accountability. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Pause the clock. Minister! Senator ABETZ: I ask Labor senators: what is it that Labor senators have against scrutiny and accountability of large sums of money? The PRESIDENT: Continue the clock. Senator ABETZ: Why do they wish to shout me down? What are they wish to keep all this money in the dark? With the government's legislation, senators will finally have the opportunity to put the interests of honest union members ahead of the interests of union bosses and Labor candidates who have ridden into parliament on the slush fund gravy train. I simply ask honourable senators: instead of interjecting, accept the will of the Australian people and the union members to clean up this mess. The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Point of order, Senator Macdonald? Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, I raise a point of order on disrespect to the chair. It is certainly better having Senator Wong with her back to you than shouting all the time, but she has shown complete disrespect to you with her back to you most of the time during those questions, organising some stunt to take place now, I assume. I would ask you to bring her to order. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order, Senator Macdonald. Minister, I believe you have concluded your answer.