Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance, Leader of the Government in Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:13): The government has made absolutely no changes to our policy arrangements in relation to border protection or to resettlement, compared with the way they're currently in place. We continue to implement our policies and there has been no change as a result of discussions— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong on a point of order? Senator Wong: My point of order is on direct relevance. The question is a simple one that goes to whether or not the government has reopened negotiations with New Zealand on their offer. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, you have restated the question. With respect, I believe the minister is being directly relevant by addressing government policy. I don't believe I can rule out what he's saying on the grounds of direct relevance. Senator Wong. Senator Wong: So your ruling is a question about whether negotiations have been reopened with New Zealand. I am clarifying the ruling. I refer to the President's ruling of 2 December, which said an answer must directly refer to or address assertions contained in a question or preamble. Is the ruling that 'policy' includes whether negotiations have opened? I would submit to you, Mr President, that that is not consistent with the ordinary meaning of the word. The PRESIDENT: There was a quotation before that, and I believe the minister is being directly relevant to part of the question. I didn't get all the quotation down, but it did refer to a quotation from the Prime Minister about Australian government policy. I think the minister is being directly relevant in that sense. Senator CORMANN: Thank you very much, Mr President. Let me confirm again that Australian government policy on border protection and resettlement arrangements has not changed as a result of discussions to facilitate passage of the medevac repeal bill through the Senate. The PRESIDENT: Senator Keneally, a final supplementary question?