Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (14:51): I haven't seen those text messages. I have only seen what has been reported in the papers and on TV, and I would again say— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: Hang on sec. Hold on to your hats. I would say that in relation to that that is the most egregious abuse of privacy I think I have ever seen. That the stakes are to the point where people will publish that and then run with those knowing that a young woman of this country— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cash? Senator Cash: Thank you, President. I will preface my point of order with a quote from the Leader of the Government in the Senate who on 21 February 2021 said this— The PRESIDENT: No, Senator Cash, you won't. You will get to your point of order. Senator Cash: This minister is accountable to the Australian people through this chamber. We are not asking her to divulge private conversations. The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, what is your point of order? Senator Cash: The minister is accountable to the chamber, and she is refusing to provide— The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, please resume your seat. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister Wong. S enator Wong: On the point of order, I would suggest to you, President, and to the chamber, that the use of private text messages obtained without consent in this chamber is a reasonable matter for a minister to respond on when those are put to him or her. Again, I would encourage all of us to reflect on the context of these current discussions and the effect on the individual concerned. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Minister Wong. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Order on my left! Order across the chamber! Order! I should not have to remind senators to listen and respect the answers. You don't have to agree with them, but it's not okay to banter across the chamber. In response to your point of order, Senator Cash, which wasn't about relevance, I will take it on notice. Minister, please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: Thank you. After making those points about the egregious breach of privacy that is continuing to occur against a young woman in this country, I would refer you to my statement, and that is what I am going to continue to do, because I had confidential information given to me. That information, at their request, was to remain confidential— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: It remained confidential until Ms Higgins decided to make that information public. That is how it happened. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: I know it upsets you greatly, but that's how it happened. The PRESIDENT: Minister, please resume your seat. The interjections are disorderly and they're disruptive. Minister, please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: I've finished. The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?