Senator RONALDSON (Victoria—Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC and Special Minister of State) (14:48): Senator Carr has been a busy old sausage over the last 24 hours. Clearly, Senator Conroy has hidden his book 'North Korea on $10 a Day', and he has had to do something else since. What I will say in relation to this is that Senator Carr constantly is reflecting back onto his own times of inactivity. As I have said before, this government is deeply committed to science, research and innovation. But those are not just words: there is $9.2 billion in science research and innovation. People talk about where this is leading: is this going to lead to jobs? Are advanced manufacturing jobs being grown? Just out of interest, I was advised this morning that there has been growth in manufacturing jobs to 922,400 jobs in the February quarter up from 913,200 jobs in the November quarter. They are predominantly full-time jobs. Senator Moore: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance to the question. There was a specific question which I am sure Senator Carr could table. It said, 'Can the minister ruled out further cuts to science and research in the next budget?' That was the question, and we have 30 seconds to go. The PRESIDENT: I will remind the minister of the question. He does have 30 seconds in which to answer. Senator RONALDSON: We now know the Australian Labor Party views an increase in manufacturing jobs as bad news. Senator Wong: You can't answer the question! You can't answer the question, and everybody behind you knows it! You're an embarrassment! Senator RONALDSON: We think it is good news, and the 9.2— Senator Wong: You can't answer the question! Senator RONALDSON: The worst finance minister in Australia's history— Senator Moore: Mr President, a point of order on direct relevance to the question: you have drawn the attention of the minister to the question, and we only have eight seconds to go that this stage. Senator Bernardi: Mr President, I raise a point of order. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator Lines interjecting— The PRESIDENT: On my left! Senator Lines! Senator Bernardi: I was listening to the minister comprehensively cover the question, and I could not hear him because of the disorderly interjections from Senator Wong, which were rather shrill and abusive I thought. Senator Wong: On the point of order: I said he couldn't answer the question. I have been accused of being abusive, Mr President. I will put it on the record: I said, 'He can't answer the question.' The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order Honourable senators interjecting— Senator Abetz: Mr President, on the point of order: Senator Wong knows that she said a lot more than that which she has put on the record. This is disgraceful behaviour. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator Wong: If I am asked to withdraw something that has been alleged they can tell me. The PRESIDENT: I do not think you were asked to withdraw anything, Senator Wong. Senator Lines interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Lines! In relation to the points of order— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: On both sides! In relation to Senator Moore's point of order, I will remind the minister of the question. In relation to Senator Bernardi's point of order, I will remind all senators that the noise has been intolerable again, today, and that interjections are completely disorderly. Senator Ronaldson, you have eight seconds in which to answer the question. Senator RONALDSON: In my representative capacity I have been telling the chamber exactly what the government's commitment is to science and innovation and manufacturing. (Time expired)