Senator PAYNE (New South Wales—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women) (14:21): Unfortunately, Mr Assange has withdrawn consent for the Australian government to consult about his personal circumstances, his health and his welfare in prison. Mr Assange withdrew that consent on 13 June last year. We have raised on a number of occasions, with the United Kingdom government and with prison officials, our expectations of how he would be treated. The high commissioner in the United Kingdom has received direct assurances that Mr Assange is held in appropriate conditions with access to a full prison regime of medical support and access to legal advice, noting prison COVID-19 social distancing— The PRESIDENT: Senator Rice, on a point of order? Senator Rice: Yes. Thanks, Mr President. Again, my question was whether the minister would make personal representations— The PRESIDENT: Senator Rice, resume your seat. You can't stand up and simply repeat a question. What is the point of order? Senator Rice: It's relevance. My question was: would the minister make personal representations? The PRESIDENT: Sit down, Senator Rice. Senator Payne was being directly relevant to the answer—directly relevant. Senator PAYNE: Let me conclude by saying that the high commission has written to Mr Assange 18 times offering consular support since his agreement was withdrawn on 13 June last year. The most recent time was on 8 December. We have not received a response from Mr Assange or his legal team to any one of those 18— (Time expired)