Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Attorney-General, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:17): First of all, the question is based on a false premise, because I asked Senator Wong across the table whether she was actually reading Mr Brough's actual words. She was not reading Mr Brough's actual words. Mr Brough did not say what Senator Wong has attributed to him— Senator Wong: The entire country has seen it on national television! Senator BRANDIS: any more than I said what Senator Wong attributed to me yesterday, any more than Mr Keenan said what Senator Wong attributed to him yesterday. Senator Wong: Did you see Laurie Oakes? Senator BRANDIS: Mr Brough gave an interview to the 60 Minutes program— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock! Senator Cameron: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. Again, this Attorney-General is refusing to answer questions in this place, and he is denying the fact that the whole country knows. It is about time he actually got back to some reality on this and answered the questions. He continues to defy you, and you should stop it. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Cameron. There is no point of order. The Attorney-General, at the very commencement of his answer, indicated that he rejected the premise of the question. Senator Wong: It was on national television! The PRESIDENT: Order! Irrespective of whether it was on national television or not, the Attorney-General has rejected the premise of the question. I am not here to adjudicate content. Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I did not want to interrupt the minister, not that I could hear him. My point of order is that I am sitting less than two metres from the Attorney and I cannot hear him because of the screeching of the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Wong. I would ask that you ask her to stop screeching and yelling so the rest of us can hear the answer. Senator Cameron: Mr President, I rise on the same point of order. I must say that you are sitting there and you know that what hast just been put to you is an absolute untruth. You should not allow senators on the other side, especially Senator Macdonald, to make unsubstantiated allegations against the Leader of the Opposition with impunity. It is just unacceptable. The PRESIDENT: In relation to both of those points of order, I remind all senators, as I did yesterday, that interjections are disorderly and it is very difficult for me in particular to listen to both the question and the answer with the level of noise in the chamber. Attorney-General, you have 24 seconds remaining. Senator BRANDIS: It is not in dispute— Senator Conroy: He confessed! Senator BRANDIS: that Mr Brough gave an interview to the 60 Minutes program in which he addressed the Ashby matter. That is not controversial. But what Senator Wong has done— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Order, Senator Brandis. Senator Wong: Mr President, I rise on a point or order on direct relevance. I asked about what the Prime Minister knew. If this question time is going to have any credibility, he should be asked to respond to the question. The PRESIDENT: Again, I say that the Attorney-General indicated at the commencement of his answer that he rejected the premise of the question. Senator BRANDIS: What Senator Wong has done is attributed words to Mr Brough that are not the words he used. Senator Conroy: He confessed! Senator BRANDIS: And because what is said is very consequential, the only fair way to ask that question is to quote Mr Brough's words, which said— (Time expired) Senator Conroy: Laurie Oakes has a spot for you on the show tonight. It will be a classic! The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Conroy. Senator Conroy: Better than metadata, George.