Senator RICE (Victoria) (14:22): My question is to Minister Ruston, the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water. Media reports this morning quoted sawmill owners in eastern Victoria as saying: At the moment, everyone is in denial but we're in wind-down mode. We're about to fall over a 'resource cliff' in two years time. There won't be enough wood for all the mills. The mill owners called for logging in national parks and water catchments as an option for timber supply. Another major mill last week said their future was under threat because of deteriorating log quality. Minister, will you rule out logging in national parks under any renegotiation of our logging laws, the regional forest agreements? The PRESIDENT: Senator Rice, it is not appropriate at question time to direct questions without notice to assistant ministers. I will let the responsible minister take the question to the extent that— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: In my decade here, I have not seen questions directed to assistant ministers, and I think most senators know that. I will allow Senator Canavan to take the question.