Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Finance, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (14:12): The answer is precisely as I said before, that, as a government, from the Prime Minister down, we've been consistent with regard to not expecting COVID-19 vaccination to be mandatory across the country but to supporting and encouraging every single Australian vaccinated and to supporting and leading the states and territories in relation to vaccine mandates where the health advice has argued it is necessary for the protection of our most vulnerable. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: On direct relevance: this does go to a specific question about a past statement from the Prime Minister and whether or not he still stands by that statement. Nothing the minister has said actually goes to that statement. In fact, it's the new line, not the line that he's been asked about. The PRESIDENT: I'm happy to rule. I've been listening very carefully to the answer. I cannot direct the minister how to answer a question. Senator BIRMINGHAM: The Prime Minister has said on countless occasions when asked about vaccination that he was not going to mandate it across Australia. He has been very clear on that on many, many occasions over a very, very long period of time. That's the position he has continued to hold and that the government continues to hold, except in those exceptional circumstances. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator O'Neill, a second supplementary?