Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:59): Mr President, it's a good thing the Speaker of the Queensland parliament has already left and couldn't see the lack of agility from Senator Watt in relation to that question that he still read, despite the fact that question was clearly dealt with in the previous answer. Those opposite want to run a kangaroo court— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, on a point of order. Senator Wong: Mr President, this is about whether staff—who are actually the Prime Minister's staff, because all staff are the Prime Minister's staff—will be made available for the New South Wales police? The minister has evaded it once. I think the chamber's entitled to an answer. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Cormann. Senator Cormann: On the point of order, not only was the minister directly relevant, he actually directly answered the question. He absolutely directly answered the question. As much as the Labor Party might think it's a matter for Labor not only to write letters and initiate investigations but also to conduct these investigations, the minister is not in a position to provide a running commentary in relation to the conduct of an independent law enforcement investigation. The point of order that Senator Wong raised should be dismissed. The PRESIDENT: It is not for the chair to rule on the content of answers as long as they are directly relevant. It is not for me to instruct the minister how to answer a question. There is an opportunity after question time for debating answers. The minister is being directly relevant, even if it is not the preferred mode of answer of those asking it. Senator Birmingham to continue. Senator BIRMINGHAM: The government could not have been clearer about the full cooperation that will be provided to this investigation. But those opposite, who asked for this investigation, now seem to be doing everything possible to try to undermine or corrupt the investigation, rather than letting it run as an independent investigation. You don't like it, do you, Senator Wong? The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order. Senator Wong: That is an inappropriate inference. We are not trying to influence the investigation. We're asking whether you will make your staff available, because we remember what Minister Cash did. The PRESIDENT: Senator Cormann, I will take a submission from you on the point of order. Senator Cormann: Again, Senator Wong is not raising a valid point of order; she is raising a debating point. Very clearly, the Labor Party think that not only should they be initiating a politically motivated investigation, they should also be conducting it and providing judgement. Senator Wong interjecting— Senator Cormann: This is a kangaroo court and a witch-hunt, if ever I've seen one. The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cormann and Senator Wong. Senators Cormann and Wong, please resume your seats. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Really? At the centre table? Senators Cormann and Wong, order! It is not for the chair to be ruling on the content of answers nor instructing ministers how to answer them, and points of order are not supposed to be debating points. Senator Birmingham to continue. Senator BIRMINGHAM: The government has been clear: we will cooperate. Senator Wong interjecting— Senator BIRMINGHAM: We will cooperate, Senator Wong. We will cooperate throughout this investigation. You don't like the fact that we say we'll cooperate and that it's now an independent investigation, because you know what your track record is from independent investigations, initiated by Mr Dreyfus: eight-zip! The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Birmingham! Time for the answer has expired. Senator Cormann. Senator Cormann: I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.