Senator CASH (Western Australia—Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Employment and Minister for Women) (14:10): Thank you, Senator Farrell, for the question. Again, this was something that was canvassed extensively at the estimates hearing. Although I have to say those on the other side don't like my answers, allegations and words that I misled the Senate are, quite frankly, just untrue. As I have always said, the answers that I gave were based on the knowledge at the time— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cash! Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: 'Methinks she doth protest too much' is what springs to mind! The point of order is— Senator Brandis interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my right! Senator Wong: Thank you, George, it's nice to hear you say something nice to me for a change! My point of order is direct relevance. Whilst I know the minister likes to run through her justification, the point of order is that the question was a very simple one: will the minister explain to the Senate the principle of ministerial responsibility? Senator Bernardi: So it's on relevance! Senator Wong: I said it was on direct relevance, if you'd had the courtesy to listen to me, Senator Bernardi. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Macdonald, on the point of order? Senator Ian Macdonald: I can't really comment on the point of order because I could not hear the minister's answer. I would ask you to ask those opposite to stop shouting and screeching and yelling so at least someone who sits close to the minister, like me, can hear her. The PRESIDENT: Ministers are allocated two minutes to answer the primary question. The minister has been going for 25 seconds. I am listening to the minister's answer. I believe it's within scope, but I note the minister has more than 1½ minutes remaining to answer the question. I would ask senators to also—props are inappropriate. I would ask senators to also allow ministers— Senator Sterle interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Bits of paper with numbers drawn on them held up are props, yes. I wasn't asking them to talk to the hand! I will ask senators to keep in mind Senator Macdonald's request, because I am certain that, if he cannot hear her sitting a seat away, the other end of the chamber will not be able to either. Senator CASH: One of the elements of ministerial responsibility is ensuring that, when you find out that an answer that you've given based on the knowledge you had is incorrect, you correct the record, which is exactly what I did. The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell, a supplementary question.