Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia—Minister for Defence) (14:44): I took my counsel at all times from the advice that I received. It was about Ms Higgins's choice— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong on a point of order? Senator Wong: Direct relevance. Yes, it is about Ms Higgins and she has made her views very clear. We are asking you questions about your conduct, Minister. The question I'm asking you to return to—through you, Mr President—is whether or not you disclosed the allegation of rape to any other ministers and, if so, when? The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is being directly relevant. Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I can't instruct a minister how to answer a question. I believe, if the minister is explaining the reasons for a course of action that was raised in the question, that is being directly relevant to the question. That is an opportunity after question time to debate it. Senator Reynolds. Senator REYNOLDS: Senator McCarthy, in her question, is assuming the nature of a private conversation that I had with Ms Higgins. I have consistently said that it is not my story to tell, it is hers. Any conversations we had were never mine to reveal, and they are still not mine to reveal. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: Direct relevance. We are not asking about private conversations with Ms Higgins. We are asking whether this minister disclosed those allegations to other ministers and, if so, when. This minister is accountable to this chamber for her conduct. The PRESIDENT: I am interpreting the minister's answers as giving reasons for the course of action she took or didn't take, so I don't want to rule that as not directly relevant. Senator Reynolds. Senator REYNOLDS: I say again that in the question I was just asked, that last supplementary, it makes assumptions about what may or may not have been said in that conversation. I am not going to say anything that breaches the confidence of that conversation. You are assuming things about— (Time expired)