Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management) (14:57): Thanks, Senator Davey, for the question. As Senator Davey is well aware, the Commonwealth is always open to the option of deploying Defence Force personnel to assist in any natural disaster, if requested by the state government. I am not aware of any request having been made by the New South Wales government for that form of assistance. I'm happy to be corrected, if such a request has been made. But, of course, the other point to be made is that the Menindee Lakes fish deaths, while absolutely tragic—and I think all of us have been very disturbed by the footage from there—do not constitute a natural disaster, so I'm not sure whether there is even the capacity to deploy the Defence Force, even if such a request were to occur. If Senator Davey is aware of a request having been made by the Defence Force, I'm happy to be made aware of that, but I'm certainly not aware of any request having been made. Of course, it's not uncommon for the opposition to call for the deployment of the Defence Force and other federal assistance when it hasn't been requested by state governments. We saw Senator McDonald do that in a radio interview last week in relation to the floods in north-west Queensland, only a matter of hours after I'd informed her that no such request had been made by the Queensland government. But never let things get in the way of making a political point when that can be made! As I said, I think we are all concerned by the large-scale fish kills that are being captured on footage at the moment at Menindee Lakes, and this, of course, is the second time in four years that we've seen this occur. While this is still being investigated, it seems that it's mostly caused by blackwater and the low oxygen that results from that. The fish kills have been caused by flooding, combined with high temperatures, which is what causes that low oxygen that flows from blackwater. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Davey. Senator Davey: My question, however, Minister, was not necessarily specific to the Defence Force. The minister would well be aware that six years and $15 million— The PRESIDENT: Senator Davey, what is the point of order? Senator Davey: I'm standing to ask my supplementary question. The PRESIDENT : Okay. Sorry. Senator McGrath: Will you stop interrupting people! The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, that was entirely unnecessary. Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, resume your seat. You are out of order. Minister Farrell? Senator Farrell: That deserves a withdrawal and an apology. Senator McGrath: I will always withdraw and I will always apologise, but a President— The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, resume your seat. You are being disrespectful and disorderly. Senator Farrell has asked you to apologise and withdraw. I ask you to reflect on that and consider that. Senator McGrath: I apologise and I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator McGrath. Senator Davey, I ask you to start the question again. I apologise because you stood just before the minister had finished and I thought you were seeking to make a point of order. Please start again.