Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Minister for Arts and Attorney-General) (14:33): The Prime Minister certainly did not say that about the crossbench. He did not say that about the crossbench. It may be that the Prime Minister had some senators in mind, Senator Lazarus, but, if he did, it was not you. Honourable senators interjecting— Senator BRANDIS: I suggest you look to your right and to your immediate left if you want a clue as to who the Prime Minister might have— The PRESIDENT: Order! The level of noise is unacceptable. It does not paint the Senate in a good light, by any stretch of the imagination. Senator Milne: Mr President, I raise a point of order. Immediately to Senator Lazarus's left is my colleague Senator Siewert. I would be horrified to think that she would be referred to as a feral, and I ask the Attorney-General to withdraw it. The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order. Senator Wong: Mr President, on the point of order: you may not have heard, but I understood Senator Milne asked for that to be withdrawn. The PRESIDENT: I did not hear that. My apologies. Can you clarify what you wanted to have withdrawn, Senator Milne? Senator Milne: The Attorney-General told Senator Lazarus that the person to his immediate left was one of the ones referred to as feral, and that is my colleague Senator Siewert. I am asking for that to be withdrawn. Senator Singh: Mr President, on a point of clarification: was it actually me that Senator Brandis was referring to as feral? Senator Heffernan: Mr President, I raise a point of order. I think the people in the gallery think we are all bloody feral. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. It would be no surprise to any senator in the chamber that I did not hear the comments of Senator Brandis, because of the level of noise within the chamber. If Senator Brandis has said something which needs to be withdrawn, I will leave it up to Senator Brandis to make that assessment. Please can we just keep the noise down. The odd interjection can be amusing but not the level that we have had. Senator BRANDIS: Mr President, I was merely speculating on what might have been in the Prime Minister's mind; I was not making a comment about any individual senator. Amidst all this merriment and jollity, Senator Lazarus, there is a more important point to be made. These higher education bills are absolutely critical for the university sector. I know that we have not yet been able to persuade you and others of the crossbench to support them, but the government will, after a period of deliberation, be re-presenting these bills. (Time expired)