Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (15:10): I've got to say, I'm pretty disappointed in Senator Birmingham. You should have left these schoolboy tactics behind—maybe at university, even. One of the reasons why—and I don't think you've quite understood this, Senator Birmingham—you only got 71 likes on your Facebook the other day is nobody is listening to you. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator FARRELL: The reason they're not listening to you— The PRESIDENT: Minister Farrell! Senator FARRELL: is you're irrelevant to the Australian people. The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell! Senator FARRELL: Why did you lose? Why did you— The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell! Order! Please resume your seat. Once again, I had to call 'order' about four times. This is disrespectful and it's incredibly disorderly. Minister Farrell. Senator FARRELL: They don't like me telling them the truth about how irrelevant they are. You were rejected by the Australian people and you haven't got over that. You haven't got over the fact that you were rejected. What you hate, what you absolutely hate, is— Senator Sterle: Each other! Senator FARRELL: That's true. You're dead right there, Senator Sterle. You do hate each other. I know you want some diversion from the Ruston-Antic—where is Antic? Out getting his numbers, I suppose. The PRESIDENT: Minister Farrell, please, when referring to a senator in this place, use his proper title. Senator O'Sullivan? Senator O'Sullivan: On a point of order. You just addressed the first one I was going to raise. The second one is that I ask you to ask the minister to direct his comments through the chair, please. The PRESIDENT: I believe he is doing that, Senator O'Sullivan, but I will remind him to direct his comments to the chair. Senator FARRELL: Yes, I should have referred to the dispute between Senator Ruston and Senator Antic about preselections in South Australia. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator FARRE LL: That's why, of course, it's Senator Birmingham who's trying to divert attention from the terrible, terrible internal— The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell, please resume your seat. Order! I'll come to you in a moment, Senator Birmingham. I had just called the chamber to order, and the minute the minister got back to his feet the disorder and the interjections immediately started up again. Senator Birmingham. Senator Birmingham: President, on a point of order: you drew me to the question of the matter of suspension of standing orders on multiple occasions, without anybody having to make a point of order. I invite you to apply the same standard to Senator Farrell. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I did draw you to the suspension; I note you very rarely went there. I will do the same to Minister Farrell. Senator FARRELL: They can't stand the truth. The truth is: you were an irrelevant government, you were a bad government, and you are an irrelevant opposition. Senator O'Sullivan: You are so arrogant! Senator FARRELL: That's not arrogance— The PRESIDENT: Minister Farrell, resume your seat. I ask for that to be withdrawn. Senator O'Sullivan: I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. Minister Farrell. Senator FARRELL: What are we doing in terms of cost of living? We're putting downward pressure on cost of living. How many times have I spoken this week? How many times have I spoken this week about what we're doing to push down the price of— The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell, I direct your comments to the suspension of the standing orders. Please continue. Senator FARRELL: I am commenting on the suspension, President. The reality is that this government is doing things the previous government was never, ever prepared to do. They have opposed, in opposition, to put downward— Senator McGrath: We didn't break promises! Senator FARRELL: Oh, come off it, Senator! This is a government that understands the problems of ordinary working Australians, which your government never, ever understood, and it never, ever will understand the problems of ordinary working Australians. We're putting on that downward pressure with cheaper medicines and cheaper child care, and by expanding parental leave for six months. We are finally getting wages moving again. What was your— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Minister Farrell, please resume your seat! I'm going to wait for order once again. Minister Farrell, please continue. Senator FARRELL: What was your policy on wages? Structurally, to keep wages depressed! We've supported ordinary working people to get wages going. More affordable housing: we're doing something about affordable housing, which you completely ignored! Fee-free TAFE places and all of these things are putting the downward pressure on. And, of course, we're delivering on recognition of Australia's First Nations people by delivering a Voice to parliament. You don't like us doing any of those things, but we're the government. We're looking after the people of Australia and we're looking after the people of Australia in a way that you have never done and have never been able to do. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! Senator Farrell, please continue. Senator FARRELL: I have completed my answer.