Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Attorney-General, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:21): First of all, we don't ever speculate upon investigations— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! Please stop the clock. On my left—there are too many of you interjecting to name you all. Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: It may be a collective, using your words, Senator Wong. I couldn't hear Senator Brandis's answer. Senator Brandis, please continue. Senator BRANDIS: I have reviewed the transcript of the Prime Minister's remarks this morning, and, in my view, it is not a fair or indeed an available construction of anything he said to suggest that he even hinted at the existence of an investigation in addressing these matters. What I have said is that certain matters have been credibly alleged by a reputable journalist against Senator Dastyari, and that is undoubtedly true. But I will not comment on, confirm or, for that matter, deny the existence of an investigation, and nor will the Prime Minister or any minister. The PRESIDENT: Senator Brandis, please resume your seat. Senator Di Natale, on a point of order? Senator Di Natale: A point of order on relevance: the question was very clear—I asked about the purpose of the $44,000 payment to the Liberal Party and whether the Liberal Party, given their comments about Senator Dastyari, would commit to repaying the money. The PRESIDENT: Senator Di Natale, your question contained a substantial preamble prior to that, and the minister is in order to address that as well. Senator BRANDIS: And I've done so, Mr President, by refuting the wrong suggestion that the Prime Minister hinted at an investigation. He did not. Coming to the rest of your question, Senator Di Natale, I don't know the details of that donation, but I can assure you that the Liberal Party is compliant with all of its disclosure obligations under the Commonwealth Electoral Act. All political parties accept donations from businesspeople—my side of politics does; the Labor Party does; the Greens do—and there is no prohibition on businesspeople donating to political parties just because they are Chinese. That's not the question here, Senator. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Di Natale, on a point of order? Senator Di Natale: I just want to know whether the Liberal Party is going to repay the money. The PRESIDENT: Senator Di Natale, this is not an opportunity to restate your question. Senator Di Natale: Point of order on relevance: it was a question; he hasn't addressed the question. Will the Liberal Party repay the money? The PRESIDENT: Please resume your seat. Your question contained a substantial amount of material. The minister is being directly relevant to what you asked. Senator BRANDIS: What is alleged against Senator Dastyari has nothing whatsoever to do with the disclosure of donations; it has to do with other matters, as you're aware. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Di Natale, on a supplementary question.