Senator PATERSON (Victoria) (14:00): My question is for the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Last week's CPI figures confirmed electricity costs have risen— Senator Wong: I raise a point of order. The President would generally follow the order of the call. The PRESIDENT: Yes, we're up to question 1, and I have the Nationals. That's the order I have. Senator PATERSON: On the point of order, I was the senator who was on my feet, I was called and I was asking my question. The PRESIDENT: Yes, although the customary practice here is that we follow a list. My apologies that I was late. I'm very sorry about that. That has never happened before, and it's unfortunate that it happened today. I understand it is the usual convention that the government proposes the order. I received an email from the government that was sent to all the whips and leaders in this place, and it had question 1 going to the Nationals. Senator PATERSON: President, I hear you, but I was on my feet and I'd been given the call by the person who was in the chair at the time. I'm halfway through my question. I think I should be allowed to finish my question, which I was called on by the person in the chair to do. The PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson, if I may, the convention at question time is that the order is followed. If we move to a different convention—that we follow whoever jumps—that's a different precedence altogether. I do have the Nationals on my list. I would like the Senate to sort that through. Jumping and getting called is a different convention to what we normally have at question time. Senator PATERSON: For clarity, you're taking the call away from me because of a convention? I was given the call by the chair and I was halfway through a question, and you're now taking the call from me because you think there is a convention that prevents me from continuing with my question. The PRESIDENT: That's taking a little bit of licence with what I said, Senator Paterson. What I said was, if you are saying you are on your feet and therefore should get the call, if that's the convention we're now using at question time, then it is up to any senator to jump and be given the call. That isn't the way we run question time. We run question time on an order that has been distributed through the chamber. I received one email from the government, where I think the convention is established, that has the Nationals on the list. That's what I'm explaining to the chamber. Senator PATERSON: Given that I had been given the call by the Acting Deputy President, I'm going to continue with my question. The PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson, I'm running the chamber. Please resume your seat. As I said, the problem with that approach is that, if another senator jumps in the chamber, then I'm honour-bound to give them the call—if that's the precedence we are adopting. Senator Watt, on the point of order. Senator Watt: To reinforce your ruling, I know there's a lot of up-ending convention going on here by the people opposite at the moment, but one convention they haven't up-ended is that the government of the day sets the order of questions. That has been done. We had an unusual situation where there was a transferring of the chair at the very beginning of question time. I would ask that the convention be upheld. The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, I said I would go to Senator Henderson. Senator Henderson: On the point of order, it would be a very significant departure from precedence in this place if a senator who is on his feet asking a question was put in a position where he was not permitted to finish the question. We appreciate the convention, but— Government senators interjecting— Senator Henderson: Excuse me. Without interjection—we do appreciate the convention. You've made it clear that you weren't in the chair at the time and therefore by reason of the circumstances that have occurred today—and I'm sure they'll be rectified tomorrow—I would ask, and it's very important, that you permit Senator Paterson to continue to ask his question. The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, the premise of your statement is not correct. There have been times in the past where a particular senator has sought the call, only for there to be the realisation that a mistake has been made. They've sat down and the mistake has been rectified. What you're asking me today to do is abandon the convention that exists in this place, which is that the government creates the order. You're asking me to allow any senator to jump and ask a question. I apologise most sincerely for not getting here on time. That was absolutely on me. It's created an additional problem because I would have given the call as it's described. I would suggest that we start the call again and that the call is given to the Nationals. But, if you're on—actually, Senator McKenzie was seeking the call. If you wouldn't mind, Senator Henderson, I'll go to Senator McKenzie and come back to you. Senator McKenzie: I'm happy for you to rule. The PRESIDENT: I have ruled, Senator McKenzie. Are you doing the question? Senator McKenzie: I thought The Nationals were called. The PRESIDENT: Yes, they were.