Senator O'NEILL (New South Wales) (14:55): The next coalition candidate on the New South Wales Senate ticket, Liberal Holly Hughes, will take the 12th New South Wales Senate spot. Has the minister discussed with the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister the prospect of Holly Hughes standing aside should the minister be found to be ineligible for election to the Senate? Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, I can deal with this, I think. Senator O'Neill, I think that question really goes beyond the portfolio duties and the public statements in relation to Senator Nash. You are now talking about electoral matters, and that question would be best directed to the minister responsible for electoral matters. Senator Wong, a point of order? Senator Wong: Mr President, you may not have heard the actual question before you made that ruling, which was: has the minister discussed with the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister the prospect of Ms Holly Hughes standing aside should the minister be found to be ineligible? So the question actually goes to— Senator Bernardi interjecting— Senator Wong: Senator Bernardi is making a different point. But, Mr President, the question goes to conversations with the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister. The PRESIDENT: About electoral matters. Senator Macdonald? Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, my point of order, both on this and on the previous question, relates to hypothetical matters. Standing order 73 clearly says that questions shall not contain hypothetical matters. The senator is presuming that she knows what the High Court might or might not do—clearly hypothetical. Both the previous question and this one should be ruled out of order. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Macdonald. I accept your point of order. I'll invite the minister, if she wishes, to answer any element of the question.