Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Minister for Arts and Attorney-General) (14:08): These matters were addressed by me and by the secretary of my department, Mr Moraitis, in Senate estimates last Tuesday. The account by Mr Moraitis and my account were full, thorough and accurate, and I have nothing to add to what was said on that occasion, because there is nothing more to say. But, Senator Collins, you should reflect on your disgraceful attack upon Mr Chris Moraitis during the debate in this chamber earlier on today. Senator Collins, you have form for this. I remember, Senator Collins, that many years ago, when you and I sat on the children overboard inquiry, you engaged in a similar disgraceful attack. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Order, Senator Brandis! We will not continue until there is a bit more order. Senator BRANDIS: You engaged in a similarly disgraceful attack on another distinguished public servant— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator BRANDIS: Jane Halton, now the Secretary of the Department of Finance. The PRESIDENT: Senator Brandis— Senator BRANDIS: It seems, Senator Collins, you cannot help yourself. It is all very well— The PRESIDENT: Senator Brandis, there has been a— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Moore, you have a point of order. Senator Moore: Mr President, I should not have to do this, but it is for the Attorney-General to direct his comments through you and not directly across the chamber at Senator Collins. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Moore. I remind all senators of the need to address their remarks to the chair. Senator BRANDIS: Quite right, Senator Moore—quite right. Mr President, it is one thing for the opposition to attack political opponents. That is fair game. But what Senator Collins descended to this morning in the debate in this chamber was an attack on the integrity— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: On my left! Senator BRANDIS: Gillian Triggs is not a public servant. Gillian Triggs is not a public servant, and her integrity has never been attacked by anyone. The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Senator Brandis— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Conroy! A point of order, Senator Moore? Senator Moore: Again, Mr President, through you rather than across the chamber—this time to an interjection. The PRESIDENT: Well, he did not directly talk not through the chair or to the chair that time. Senator Brandis, you have the call. Senator Ronaldson: You got two out of two, Claire! Senator BRANDIS: One and a half, Senator Ronaldson—one and a half. I do like to make eye contact, but nevertheless, Senator Parry, I will focus myself entirely on you. It is one thing, Mr President, for there to be spirited criticism and political attacks on a political opponent, as I suffered this morning. That is fine. That is the way this process works. But senior public servants doing their job ought not to be the subject of the kind of despicable character assassination we saw on Mr Moraitis and, in years gone by, Ms Halton by Senator Collins.