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) (14:25): We asked reasonable questions that I thank the public would have expected us to answer, considering the seriousness of the allegations that had been raised. Senator Cash: It is a protection racket! The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Gallagher, please resume your seat. Minister Wong, did you have a point of order? Senator Wong: I was asking Senator Cash to perhaps cease for a moment in her interjections while the senator was on her feet. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! These are serious matters. I've said that over and over again. I am being fair across the chamber. I want the questions asked in silence and I want the answers responded to in silence. It is legitimate to call points of order, but it is not legitimate to keep calling out across the chamber, and I think it's not fair to make me the arbiter of your behaviour. You're in control of whether you shout out or not, and I will keep sitting the minister down and drawing it to the chamber's attention. I'm asking you to listen in respectful silence—from both sides of the chamber. I don't think that is an outrageous ask. Minister, please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: Thank you. We were mindful of people's health and wellbeing. We considered that deeply, but we also had to ask questions that needed to be asked about something that happened in this building. Senator Henderson: It was prejudicial. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left particularly! Government sen ators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: And on my right! Minister, please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: So we asked reasonable questions at that time. We were mindful of people's health and wellbeing. When those issues were raised directly with us—and Senator Ruston knows this—we responded appropriately.