Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Education and Training and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:42): I thank Senator Keneally for her question. In terms of the precise dollars, I am quite happy to take on notice anything that can be provided, in addition to information that Minister Frydenberg has a ready provided. I can happily say that the Great Barrier Reef Foundation has absolutely raised millions of dollars. I say that with some degree of confidence because I remember the fact that the former Labor government gave them $12 million. That's right—the Labor Party saw fit to give the foundation millions of dollars. The PRESIDENT: Senator Collins on a point of order. Senator Jacinta Collins: The question is not about what government funds may have been provided. The question is around the fundraising history from philanthropic and other sources that this body, which has been given half a billion dollars, may in reality have. The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is being directly relevant to the entirety of the question asked. Senator BIRMINGHAM: The Labor Party can't have it both ways. They can't try to drag down the name of a foundation that has done good work raising money to support the protection of the Great Barrier Reef and investing funds in projects to support the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. The Labor Party were happy to give millions of taxpayer dollars to that foundation, yet when the Turnbull coalition government gives millions of dollars to the same foundation, the Labor Party seek to drag the foundation's name through the mud. That's the Labor Party way, isn't it? It's all about cheap, base politics rather than the interests of the Great Barrier Reef. Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I'll call Senator Wong when there's silence on my right. Senator Wong. Senator Wong: I'm tempted to say 'very expensive, base politics on the other side', but what I'm actually coming to is direct relevance. The minister himself raised the fundraising history of— Senator Ian Macdonald: There are not special rules for you. Senator Wong: I'm sorry, Senator; are you speaking to me? The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, please let me hear the point of order. Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, please let me hear the point of order before I rule on it. Senator Macdonald! Senator Wong, please resume. Senator Wong: The point of order is direct relevance. The minister himself has said— Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, I've asked you several times— Senator Ian Macdonald: I'm responding to Senator Cameron. The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald— Senator Cameron interjecting— The PRESIDENT: It doesn't help, Senator Cameron. Senator Macdonald, I've asked you to remain silent on a couple of occasions. Senator Wong, please resume your point of order. Senator Wong: Thank you. The point of order is direct relevance. The question is about fundraising history. We want the amounts that the corporation has raised from corporate or private sources over its entire history. This is precisely the justification for the grant. The PRESIDENT: I understand, Senator Wong. You have reminded the minister of the second part of the question. I understand he's taken part of the question on notice. As long as he's directly relevant to part of the question, I cannot instruct him how to answer the question. Senator BIRMINGHAM: Mr President, indeed I took that on notice. But, in a question that was asking about funds provided to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park foundation, at a time when the Labor Party are criticising the coalition government for giving funds to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park foundation, it is highly relevant to remind the Labor Party that they gave millions of dollars to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park foundation. Now, we are proud to have made an investment into the future of the reef. We're proud to be making record investment through the Reef Trust into the future of the reef. We're proud to have been the government that got the reef taken off the 'in danger' list. We are proud to have made sure that the reef is in good hands. (Time expired)