Senator COLBECK (Tasmania—Minister for Sport and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) (14:17): Every person in this chamber would abhor any circumstance where a senior Australian has had that circumstance occur. Every single one of us would have that view. That is why this government called the royal commission, because we want to reform this sector in a way that provides high-quality care to senior Australians. That is our objection. The PRESIDENT: Senator Gallagher, on a point of order? Senator Gallagher: My point of order is on relevance: the question was very direct. There was no preamble. It was: how many Australians in residential aged care have died this year as a result of neglect? I ask the minister to come to the answer to the question. The PRESIDENT: You're quite right. I have previously ruled where there's a specific question that relates to the search for a fact, direct relevance will be applied very tightly. I call the minister to turn to the question. Senator COLBECK: There have been, over the course of the last 12 months, a number of allegations of neglect in aged care and we're dealing with some of those as a part of the questions that we're being asked today. Senator Polley interjecting— Senator COLBECK: Mr President, Senator Polley interjects and says they're more than allegations but that's exactly what they are; they are allegations at this point in time. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: I repeat Senator Gallagher's point of order. The PRESIDENT: This was a specific factual question for which an answer can be provided or a discussion of the topic in question. I have previously ruled that, where there is no preamble or commentary or politically contestable terms, questions need to be taken strictly at their face value. Minister, I remind you of the question. Senator COLBECK: I have allegations of people who may have died of neglect but I have no direct evidence of anyone who has died of neglect. (Time expired)