Senator PAYNE (New South Wales—Minister for Defence) (14:45): As I said to the senator in response to his first question, an exercise such as this is engaged in on an opportunity basis—that is, when ships that are part of the CMF are in the same place at the same time. What Australia has done is to urge all those involved in Yemen to end the conflict and to return to UN led negotiations aiming for a permanent end to the hostilities. Australian officials have made representations to the parties to the conflict regarding the importance of allowing unhindered humanitarian access and the need to respect international humanitarian law. In relation to the position of the ADF, Australia does not conduct operations in Yemeni territorial waters or Yemini airspace. Nor do we currently have a defence relationship with— The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson, a point of order? Senator Whish-Wilson: It is a point of order on relevance. I've waited until 18 seconds are left to go. My question was very clear: were there discussions within Defence and between government about the dangers of conducting this exercise now, with a blockade going on that's forcing the starvation of seven million people? The PRESIDENT: Senator, please don't restate the question. Again I make the point—and we had an example earlier in the week—that, when there are prefaces to questions, ministers are allowed to address the preface to the question as well as the final words of the question. Senator PAYNE: I endeavoured to indicate in response to Senator Whish-Wilson's question that that is not the nature of the type of activity that is engaged in within the CMF. The engagements occur between naval representatives, ship to ship, on an opportunistic basis. I've made Australia's position very clear. I've indicated what— (Time expired)