Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Finance, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (15:00): I know that these issues have been explored in this place with Senator Reynolds, as well as in the other place, during the course of the week. There seems to be a desperate attempt to seek to draw some connection that just does not exist in this regard. The National Retailers Association has donated to both sides of politics. The Labor member for Griffith received donations from the National Retailers Association in the same financial year as Mr Dutton's campaign. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: My point of order is on direct relevance. The issue is not a political donation in its own right; the issue is a political donation being made to somebody who then fast tracks consideration of a taxpayer grant—a taxpayer grant. I'd ask the minister to be directly relevant to the question. The PRESIDENT: I've allowed you to restate the question, Senator Wong. I'll listen carefully to the minister's answer. He has a minute 20 remaining. Senator BIRMINGHAM: Thanks, Mr President. The National Retailers Association applied for funding, I'm advised, for a protecting crowded places project to assist retailers to deter, detect, delay and respond to a terrorist attack. Noting the events that had occurred— Senator Keneally interjecting— Senator BIRMINGHAM: I do not accept the interjections from Senator Keneally in relation to the notion of a conflict. Mr Dutton processed this application from the National Retailers Association in accordance with normal practices. The PRESIDENT: Senator Chisholm, a supplementary question?