Senator NAMPIJINPA PRICE (Northern Territory) (15:00): Thank you, President. Minister, as part of these media reports included the allegations involving a former Labor preselected candidate and current Northern Land Council chair, Matt Ryan, in an attempt to discredit Ms Thompson— Senator Watt interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Nampijinpa Price, please resume your seat. Senator Watt, I was going to listen to the entire question before ascertaining whether it went to portfolio matters. Senator Nampijinpa Price, would you like to continue? It does need to address Minister McCarthy's portfolio areas. Please continue. Senator NAMPIJINPA PRICE: Given that the land council is a portfolio area for the minister, the conduct of the chair of the Northern Land Council, in an attempt to discredit Ms Thompson— The PRESIDENT: That is time now. Please resume your seat. The mere mention of the land council doesn't go to the portfolio because the majority of the question was about a candidate. Senator Wong. Senator Wong: The president is ruling, so I would ask the opposition and the leader of the opposition to perhaps— The PRESIDENT: Order! In the same vein as the first question did not go to portfolio matters, the mere mention of the land council does not go to portfolio matters because the bulk of the question went to candidates for election. Senator Birmingham. Senator Birmingham: President, on your point of order, the supplementary question was actually quite specific to actions and reports and comments attributed to the chair of the Northern Land Council. This was not peripheral to the nature of the question but core to the nature of the supplementary question and distinctly within the portfolio responsibilities of the minister. The PRESIDENT: I am advised that it doesn't look like the first supplementary question relates to the primary question. I am not aware of whether someone is a chair of a land council or not but what I heard was a question around a candidate. Senator Birmingham interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Just before I finish, Senator Birmingham, I am happy review the Hansard and come back to the chamber if that satisfies. Senator Birmingham: President, thank you, and I appreciate your offer to review the Hansard. The primary question from Senator Nampijinpa Price definitely referred to media reports. The supplementary, in referencing those media reports, indicated the role of the chair of the Northern Land Council in those media reports. It is clearly supplementary. It is clearly relevant to the minister's portfolio. I appreciate your offer to review that and, of course, the usual practice of the minister being invited to respond. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Birmingham. The first question was ruled out of order. It did not go to the minister's portfolio areas. My assessment of the second question is the same but, as I said to you, I will take that and look at the Hansard. If I need to address the chamber because I have made the wrong calling then I will certainly do that. I invite Minister McCarthy to respond if she wishes.