Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Attorney-General, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:11): I am not familiar with the details of those reports. But, since you raised the issue of foreign influence, Senator Cameron, what I can tell you is that this morning your senior colleague Senator Dastyari has been the subject of very, very serious allegations. The PRESIDENT: Senator Cameron, on a point of order? Senator Cameron: Yes, a point of order on relevance. There was a simple question here: on what date was the Prime Minister or his office aware that Mr Liu's company had made or was going to make a generous donation? The PRESIDENT: I urged you last week to be somewhat more creative in attempting to restate the question when you are making a point of order. I am aware of the point you are making. Do you want to continue on the point of order without re-reading the question? Senator Cameron: I'm happy to do that. I'm simply saying the minister's attention should be drawn to the question. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Cameron. Your question also included a preamble. I can't instruct the minister how to answer the question, but I remind him of the question. Senator BRANDIS: As I say, I'm not familiar with the details of that report. But since you raised the issue, Senator Cameron, of foreign interference and foreign influence, then, look to your own. Look to the conduct of Senator Dastyari last year, when, at last, belatedly and under pressure, the opposition leader's hand was forced to demote Senator Dastyari to the backbench, but only briefly, only for less than five months, before he was restored to the opposition Senate leadership team. Now, this morning, as I said in response to the question from Senator Bushby, Senator Dastyari is once again the subject of very grave allegations. The PRESIDENT: Senator Cameron. Senator Cameron: Again, on relevance: there may have been a very small introduction, but this was a very clear, specific question about a $40,000 donation and the Prime Minister being at a dinner with that person. I have simply asked about when it took place and when the Prime Minister knew. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Brandis. Senator BRANDIS: I was going to observe that it is Senator Cameron who chose, no matter how brief his preamble may have been, to open the question of foreign interference. The PRESIDENT: I was going to rule. Senator Cameron, as you are aware, ministers— Senator Cameron: Can you draw his attention to the question at least. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong. Senator Wong: Mr President, on the point of order, Senator Brandis's assertions are a misstatement of the question. The only preamble, as you are describing it, is a reference to the report that Mr Turnbull dined with a Chinese political donor after a $40,000 donation was made. That is the only preamble, which is absolutely germane to the question. The PRESIDENT: Senator Williams, on a point of order? Senator Williams: A point of order, Mr President. When the question was asked of Senator Brandis, he immediately said he was not familiar with any gathering whatsoever. It was answered in the first statement. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, I thank Senator Wong for her assistance. In my view, that did introduce the issue. The minister is allowed to address issues raised in the question. I have previously reminded the minister of the question. I will do so again, but I believe he is addressing an issue raised in the question. Senator BRANDIS: Thank you, Mr President. Let us take at face value what Senator Cameron claims was asserted in this press report as nothing but the fact that, if it be true, the Prime Minister dined with a foreign national. I am advised that any such occasion was organised by the Queensland LNP. It does not bear comparison with Senator Sam Dastyari's conduct in deliberately and covertly concealing a conversation with a Chinese donor for the very purpose— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Cameron, a supplementary question.