Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:42): This is where I would say to the Labor Party again that this cockiness reminds me of the cockiness in the Labor Party in 2001. Let me just say again, you guys should reflect on what happened to the great Kim Beazley, who was way more electable than Bill Shorten is. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, a point of order? Senator Wong: This is a quote— A government senator interjecting— Senator Wong: No, it's not. Kim's a very good friend. Senator Ian Macdonald: What's your point of order? Senator Wong: Thank you for your assistance, Senator Macdonald, as always. My point of order is direct relevance. The question is about a quote from a Liberal New South Wales minister. I don't think Mr Beazley— Senator Birmingham interjecting— Senator Wong: He's quoted directly. So, unless the journalist is lying, Senator Birmingham, I think it is a quote. I ask that the minister return to the question. Senator CORMANN: On the point of order: despite Senator Wong's attempt to find seriousness, given the unseriousness of the question, I was actually being directly relevant to the question asked. It was a political question, and I'm providing a political answer. The PRESIDENT: I'm happy to rule on the point of order. Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, would you like to make another point? Senator Wong: I can have another go? The PRESIDENT: Have another go, in the spirit of Christmas. Senator Wong: In the spirit of Christmas! I'll leave it there. I'm sorry, I'm somewhat overcome! The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, with questions with a tone like that, the minister is given some liberality in addressing them, and he was being directly relevant. Senator CORMANN: Thank you very much, Mr President. It was, of course, a highly juvenile question— Senator Wong: It was a Liberal quote. Senator CORMANN: And here we've got the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate interjecting, disorderly. I could come in here and read a lot of quotes about what Labor members and senators have said about Mr Shorten in the past. I could come in and read quotes from Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard and various other people. I could come out and read quotes from all sorts of Labor people about what they think about Mr Shorten. But I won't do that. What I will say to the Labor Party is: don't count your chickens before they hatch. The PRESIDENT: Senator O'Neill, a final supplementary question. An opposition senator: Worry about your own chickens! The PRESIDENT: On my left! I can't hear Senator O'Neill.