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): The responsibility to test evidence provided in court is that of the court, and as far as— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, on a point of order. Senator Wong: Direct relevance: the question goes to whether the Prime Minister, not the court, sought assurances from the two ministers, whose public statements have been contradicted. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, the minister has only been speaking for nine seconds. You do correctly restate the specific nature of the question, which was about an action of the Prime Minister or his office. Senator CORMANN: Both ministers referenced by Senator Wong are very clear in their statements. Both Senator Cash and— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, on the point of order. Senator Wong: Direct relevance: the question goes to whether the Prime Minister or his office sought information. The PRESIDENT: The minister has been speaking for another nine seconds. He was directly addressing the issue of information in what I thought was nine seconds since the last point of order. I'm listening very carefully. He has 42 seconds remaining to answer. Senator CORMANN: Both Senator Cash and Minister Keenan have provided honest, accurate and forthright answers based on their state of knowledge. The Prime Minister has full confidence in his ministers. As far as evidence in court proceedings is concerned, that is a matter to be tested through the normal processes in the court. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, point of order on direct relevance. Senator Wong: Well, he successfully avoided it. The PRESIDENT: There is a time after question time to debate answers. I cannot direct a minister as to how or the manner in which he should answer a question. He has concluded his answer, and that's a matter for the Senate. Senator Wong, a final supplementary question.