Senator HANSON (Queensland) (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Minister, as you are aware, my stance on the yet to be constructed Adani rail line is that it should be built and funded by both Queensland and Australian governments based on the billions of dollars profit it will generate for many years to come. Queensland's Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk until recently supported the rail being built by Adani and being partially funded by Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility for approximately $1 billion. Do you believe the Premier's reluctance to support the loan now is due to conflict of interest regarding her partner or has she used this as a political tool to get Greens preferences, regardless of the thousands of jobs that will be lost in Queensland? The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong on a point of order. Senator Wong: Point of order. I ask you to consider whether that question is in order. It is asking for an opinion, clearly, 'Do you believe?' and it is asking for an opinion about what is in the mind of the state Premier. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Brandis. Senator Brandis: Senator Canavan is the minister for northern Australia. This goes directly, directly, to the circumstances in which a decision may or may not be made which will bear upon the operation of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and the development of a major project, creating up to 10,000 jobs in northern Australia. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Wong. You get precedence over Senator Cameron, if you wish. Senator Cameron. Senator Cameron: This is on this issue. Senator Brandis indicated that this is in order. It's not in order to ask for opinions. The minister can have no idea what's in people's minds. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, it was a lengthy question and there were a number of questions contained within it. Ministers are well aware of the restrictions upon questions and the minister is entitled to answer as to government intentions and government policy. Senator Wong, on the point of order. Senator Wong: We accept your ruling. I ask you, Mr President, if you would review the Hansard after question time. There were a lot of words but the only question that was actually asked was a question of opinion of this minister about what was in the mind of the Premier, and that cannot, in my submission, be in order. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, I will do that. On other occasions, when a senator has not got to a question before the end of the allotted time, we have allowed a minister to answer the preface to the question. Senator Wong: I'm making a different point. The PRESIDENT: I appreciate that. I will look at the Hansard. The minister is aware of the restrictions upon what questions can be asked.