Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (15:08): I thank Senator McGrath for the opportunity he has afforded me to explain the government's performance in answering questions on notice from estimates. I'm delighted to inform the chamber that, for the May 2023 budget estimates hearings, our government has now answered over 85 per cent of questions. For the equivalent budget estimates in May 2021, when, of course, your government was in power, the Morrison government had only answered 67 per cent of questions by the due date. Further, the Morrison government had nearly a thousand unanswered questions on notice remaining when it left government, some dating back three years, and many Morrison government ministers returned answers from the previous round of estimates whilst the next round was underway. We've heard a lot about transparency from those opposite this week, but let us remember the appalling record of those opposite when it comes to transparency. Who could forget former Prime Minister Mr Morrison secretly swearing himself into multiple ministries? We had a Prime Minister undermining our parliamentary system of government, undermining our democratic traditions of accountability and responsibility, and undermining the integrity of this place—and, of course, refusing to take any responsibility for it. When those opposite had the chance to take some action in this place to improve the standard of transparency in government did they jump at the chance, Senator McGrath? No. They refused to act, and time and again they acted against transparency. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr is seeking to make a point of order. Senator Scarr: Deputy President, it's on relevance. I'm listening very carefully to Senator Farrell and I really don't see how his response in relation to the previous government's actions is at all relevant with respect to the questions raised by my colleague Senator McGrath. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Minister, I draw you back to the request. Having said that, Senator Scarr, I cannot direct the minister how to answer. Senator FARRELL: Where was the transparency when the former Morrison government refused to hand over key documents about the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program to the Senate? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, a point of order? Senator Birmingham: Deputy President, I have a point of order. You did just draw the minister back to the request. He showed flagrant disregard for your ruling in that regard. The question about responses to questions on notice was a very standard question asked in a standard way in this place. I have had to answer it before and I have been drawn back to the question in answering it before. I believe I respected the chair in doing so and came back to the point of answering the actual questions on notice, not reflecting on other extraneous matters of the current or previous government's activities. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Minister, you have heard Senator Birmingham. I ask that you— Senator FARRELL: I reiterate that I'm delighted to inform the chamber that for the May 2023 budget estimates hearings our government has now answered over 85 per cent of questions.