Senator CAMERON (New South Wales) (15:05): I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Firstly I will go to the response from Senator Brandis in relation to the questions that were put on the behaviour of the foreign minister, Julie Bishop. Julie Bishop—or, the Foreign Minister is Australia's pre-eminent diplomat. Senator Brandis: Mr Deputy President, I rise on a point of order. Twice now Senator Cameron has neglected to accord Ms Bishop the courtesy of using her proper name and her proper title, and he should be reminded to do so. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Yes, and I do remind you, Senator Cameron, to refer to members in the other place by their correct title. Senator CAMERON: As you saw, I did correct myself. I do apologise if I infringed upon any of the conventions. But what we have with the foreign minister is a person who is supposed to be Australia's pre-eminent diplomat. Being the supposed pre-eminent diplomat means that you have to deal with other countries around the world, and you have to gain the trust of those countries. You cannot behave deceitfully, you cannot behave without any credibility and you cannot behave with hypocrisy. These are what the allegations are against the foreign minister by her own party. Her own party now do not trust the foreign minister. There are members within the party who do not believe for one minute that the foreign minister was not totally aware of the coup that was taking place against the former Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott. It just stretches credibility to think that the explanation the foreign minister gave today has any substance or any truth. It is simply beyond belief. No wonder Senator— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Brandis on a point of order. Senator Brandis: I have been listening with particular care to what Senator Cameron has had to say. I would respectfully submit to you that Senator Cameron has crossed the line in relation to the standing order prohibiting reflections upon a member of another chamber. Senator Cameron is directly suggesting that Ms Bishop has engaged in deceitful conduct, and that is plainly against the standing orders. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I would ask you, Senator Cameron, to be careful in the words you use. There is a prohibition on reflecting in that way on members here and in the other place. I would ask you to continue but be very mindful of the standing order that has been brought to your attention. Senator CAMERON: Thank you, Mr Deputy President. I will take your wise words into account. The issue that faces the foreign minister now is the lack of trust that some of her own parliamentary colleagues have in her: the allegations of deceit that have been made against the foreign minister, and the lack of credibility that people are seeing the foreign minister has as a result of her involvement in the coup against the former Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott. It is no wonder that Senator Abetz and Senator Bernardi are outraged at the behaviour of the foreign minister in relation to the coup against the former Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott. The reports in the newspaper today talk about simmering tensions in the coalition. These are not simmering tensions—it is the white-hot heat of hatred within the coalition. Today, Senator Abetz and Senator Bernardi did not even turn up to question time. I know what is going on. They are too busy crying on each other's shoulders— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Brandis on a point of order. Senator Brandis: I think we are aware of Senator Abetz's family circumstances. I am advised by the whip that he has leave to return home to deal with very distressful family circumstances. I would ask Senator Cameron to withdraw that reflection. Senator CAMERON: I would have no hesitation in withdrawing that. But, on the point of order, I understood it was always incumbent upon the Leader of the House to indicate the reasons for people seeking leave and being given leave. None of that was done today in relation to Senator Abetz. I just want to draw that to your attention. If there is any personal issue involved in Senator Abetz not being here, I do apologise. Senator Brandis: Senator Abetz was paired. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Yes, I think Senator Abetz has been paired. I understand that you were not aware of the circumstances of Senator Abetz's absence. Now that you are you may wish to rephrase some of your comments. Senator CAMERON: As I indicated earlier, I will withdraw any comments in relation to Senator Abetz. I fully understand the situation and would not want to do anything that would add to any problems for Senator Abetz in relation to any personal circumstance. I want to make that clear. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Cameron. You have the call. Senator CAMERON: The simmering tensions there are really white-hot. There is no doubt that it is a volcano ready to blow. The Liberals hate the National Party, the National Party hate the Liberals, and the Liberals hate each other. That is what we see here, day in and day out. This is a party that, on the surface, is trying to project— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Smith on a point of order. Senator Smith: My mother taught me that hate is a very strong word. I caution Senator Cameron from using it, but, also, its application is totally wrong. There is a strong sense of respect and mutual— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I appreciate the lessons your mother may have taught you, but it is not a point of order. Senator Smith: She taught me well! Senator CAMERON: I suppose, Senator Smith, that now and again you have to get out from under your mum's coat-tails and get into the real world! Get into the big, wide world. The reality is that the Libs hate the Nationals, the Nationals hate the Liberals and the Liberals hate each other. No mater whether or not your mum thinks that is a nice thing, that is the reality. The supporters of the former Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott, hate the PM clique. There is no doubt about that. There is a real hatred there. I say that when you send your chief of staff to engage in a plot against the Prime Minister you just cannot be trusted. It is deceitful. There is no credibility and it is hypocritical. (Time expired)