Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:20): The first point I make is that the minister has made clear publicly that, first, she's the decision-maker and that she considers a range of factors when determining whether an expansion of bilateral air rights is in our national interest. That's consistent with what Mr McCormack said today. He said, 'You can't have an airline coming in from overseas'— Senator Birmingham: President— Senator WONG: I'm unsurprised you want to shut me down on this, Senator Birmingham. I'm unsurprised you're embarrassed by this. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Birmingham? Senator Birmingham: President, a point of order on direct relevance. This goes to the very issue and the heart of government accountability here. The minister was asked specifically to define the grounds that were in the national interest—not to go and quote past decisions or former ministers but to explain this government's decisions, how it determined the grounds and how those grounds are in the national interest. She should be drawn to that very specific question asked by Senator McKenzie. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I remind the minister of Senator McKenzie's first supplementary. Senator WONG: My answer is the one I gave, which is that the minister considers a range of factors when determining whether an expansion of bilateral air rights is in our national interest. That is not unusual. It is not unusual to have a national interest test in legislation, and there are discretionary powers in legislation across government. Senator Birmingham: Cite what those grounds are in the national interest. The PRESIDENT: Order! The question has been asked, and the minister is responding. Senator WONG: It's not unusual for there to be discretion in a ministerial decision, it's not unusual for national interest to be the reference point in that decision, and it's not unusual for a range of factors to be taken into account. (Time expired) Senator Scarr: It is unusual that you can't tell us what they are. The PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr, order! Senator McKenzie, second supplementary?