Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:01): I think that that is a rather irresponsible question. I think that Senator Wong well knows—she's senior enough in this occupation to know—that no government ever comments on the advice that— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: The point of order is on direct relevance. This is a serious matter. The question does actually not go to the content of the advice; it goes to whether the Prime Minister considered there are public reports so serious that he sought advice. I simply asked: has he sought advice? I didn't ask what the advice was. The PRESIDENT: I understand, Senator Wong. On the point of order, the minister has been speaking for 20 seconds. I'll allow him to continue. Senator CORMANN: The Prime Minister has full confidence in the member for Chisholm, as he has indicated publicly. This is nothing but an attempt at a Labor smear. The double standard is quite unbelievable. If you look at the Labor candidate for Chisholm in that same election, she was a member and an honorary chairwoman of the same organisation. She equally gave advice that she wasn't aware— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cormann! Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: I think it really is cowardly to smear somebody who's not even in the parliament. Mr President, this goes to direct relevance and it goes to imputations as well. There are serious national security questions raised by someone on the front page of the paper. You ought to respond—not smear someone who is not here to defend herself. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Cormann, Senator Wong has reminded you of the nature of her question. In this case, I believe the appropriate aspect of the supplementary relates to the specific nature of the question rather than other people. Senator CORMANN: I completely reject the proposition that Senator Wong has just made. There are not serious national security issues at stake in relation to the member for Chisholm. This is a clumsy interview of a new backbencher who happens to be an Australian of Chinese descent, the same as the Labor candidate in Chisholm was an Australian of Chinese descent— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, a final supplementary question?