Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Finance, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:32): Sometimes when I stand here and look opposite I'm not sure whether I'm seeing a whole world of Nostradamuses across from me or people who just think that they have the wonderful benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left, Senator Wong. Senator BIRMINGHAM: A very obvious point that was missing from Senator Gallagher's question was any recognition of the reality of the existence of the delta variant. A 100 per cent increase in the transmissibility of COVID-19 is a factor in relation to the delta variant. Having changed the results in a 100 per cent increase— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I can barely hear Senator Birmingham. An opposition senator interjecting— The PRESIDENT: He does have a loud voice. Senator Gallagher, on a point of order? Senator Gallagher: The leader of the government is misleading— The PRESIDENT: That's not a point of order. Senator Gallagher: I did mention the delta outbreak. It's misleading to say— The PRESIDENT: That's not a point of order, Senator Gallagher. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! There's an opportunity to debate answers after question time. We have senators operating remotely. I ask again for the courtesy of the Senate to allow them to hear it, because if I can't, they can't. Senator BIRMINGHAM: The fact is the circumstances we face now are quite different to the circumstances we faced as a country 12 months ago. At the time of the Victorian lockdown last year— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left. Senator Pratt and Senator Watt, your leader is on her feet. Senator Wong, a point of order? Senator Wong: My point of order is on direct relevance. I would point out that this question does relate to comments made when the delta variant was already in place in Sydney. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, please. It was a very broadly worded question. The minister is entirely in order in answering it in these terms. I am going to ask for silence. I do not want to have to stand or interrupt question time further. Senator BIRMINGHAM: The simple point is that, when the facts and the evidence change, we have been willing to change with the facts and the changes in evidence, and those opposite would be the first to criticise us if we didn't.