Senator PAYNE (New South Wales—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women) (14:45): Members of my office and of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade met with Mr Assange's legal team in this sitting period to discuss a range of matters, including the matter of Mr Assange. This government has sought, through our consular officials and through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the high commission in Britain, to support Mr Assange in an appropriate consular fashion in any way we could. We have done that by seeking his consent to discuss any prison condition issues with prison officials, to offer him consular assistance; we have done that on 21 separate occasions. On 21 separate occasions, no response has been received to that correspondence from Mr Assange or from his representatives. Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Whish-Wilson! Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson! Senator PAYNE: The government has endeavoured to provide him with that appropriate support. Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson! Senator PAYNE: We will continue to do that. He withdrew consent for us to consult in relation to any of his circumstances, his health or his welfare, in 2019. We have continued to raise with UK government officials our expectations— (Time expired) Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Payne. The time for the answer has expired. Senator Whish-Wilson, I called you to order and you kept interjecting while I was doing so. Please cease.