Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management) (14:31): There's nothing quite like being condescended to by Senator Hughes, is there, to make one's self-esteem feel that much stronger! Whenever I'm feeling any degree of self-doubt— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Minister! Senator WATT: The condescender-in-chief's back. The PRESIDENT: I'm waiting for silence. Senator Hughes: You're so good for women, aren't you! The PRESIDENT: Senator Hughes! Senator Hughes: I ask the minister to withdraw. That was disparaging to me and to every woman in this place. He should withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, it would assist the chamber if you withdrew. Senator WATT: If it would assist the chamber, I'm happy to withdraw. I will point out that I was directing those remarks to only Senator Hughes when it comes to condescending other people in this chamber. The PRESIDENT: Minister, please resume your seat. Senator WAT T: But I'm happy to withdraw if that assists the chamber. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. When I ask people, in the interests of the chamber, either to withdraw or to withdraw fully, I expect it to be done in a serious manner and that no other commentary be put with that. If you would, consider the chamber, withdraw and move on. Senator WATT: I'm happy to withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. Senator WATT: In answer to Senator Hughes's supplementary question, as I was saying in answer to the previous question, something that the opposition seems to fail to grasp is that childcare payments are not only a social welfare measure; they are an important measure to encourage more women to participate in the workplace. We know that women's participation in the workplace is far lower than men's and we know that increasing women's participation in the workplace is an important economic measure for this government. The PRESIDENT: Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Ruston: I raise a point of order on clarification. Is the minister saying child care is a social welfare measure? The PRESIDENT: That's not a point of order, Senator Ruston. Senator Watt interjecting— Senator Ruston interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Interjections across the chamber are disorderly, Senator Ruston. Minister Watt, please continue. Senator WATT: If Senator Ruston requires me to do so, I will repeat the point. The point I was making is that childcare payments are not only a social welfare measure; they are an economic development measure. The Australian workforce needs more women, and childcare payments will assist. (Time expired)