Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (15:09): That was a fairly expansive contribution to the Senate, and I want to make a few points in response. Senator Ruston interjecting— Senator WONG: No, it will be precise and to the point. The first is that the senator seems to be very keen to quote me, which maybe I'll take as a compliment. But I would make the point that I have served in this chamber opposite Nick Minchin, Eric Abetz, George Brandis and Mathias Cormann, who I had the pleasure of catching up with last week. Senator Hanson-Young: What about Birmo? Senator WONG: And, of course, Birmo most recently, on the other side! But I will say, as Leader of the Opposition, what we all understood in our roles was what we wanted to have as something that parties of government resolve and when we would play the crossbench in. And of course, at time, people do play the crossbench in, but it wasn't really until last week that I've ever observed a party of government essentially inviting a member of the crossbench to become the Leader of the Opposition! And I thought, really, Senator Pocock should just be invited to the Liberal party room and be elected to your job, because he is doing your job. That is what you're doing. That's the first point I'd say. I've never seen that in over 20 years. The second point I would make is this: this is not urgent. This is a stunt. Senator Ruston interjecting— Senator WONG: No. Excuse me. I actually listened to you. Senator Ruston: I'm listening to you. Senator WONG: Courtesy! This is a stunt. And I'm interested to see if the senator actually returns to the last question, which she fought so much about. Senator McGrath: David Smith is going to lose his seat. The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath! Senator Ruston, I ensured there was silence in the chamber, and I expect that same respect— Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! You're not in a debate with me, Senator McGrath! I expect Senator Wong to be heard in silence. Senator WONG: Thank you. I think we all understand this is a stunt. And if the approach we want to take is a conversation across the chamber about the order of the call, that's how we will approach it. But those opposite, particularly this acting Leader of the Opposition, has not taken that approach. If the Senate wants to return to what has been the approach—certainly in all the time I've been here, with many different leaders— Senator McGrath: You sacked our staff. Senator WONG: Senator McGrath, would you mind? I'm tired of you interjecting on me. It's just rude. Senator McGrath interjecting— Senator WONG: Senator! Excuse me! If senators want to return to a conversation across the chamber about how the order of the call is managed— Senator McGrath: Release the document. Senator WONG: Are you done? The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, I've called you to order about three times. If you can't sit in silence, leave the chamber. Senator WONG: If senators want to return to that sort of approach, we're up for that. We are up for that. I've always sought in this role, and Minister Gallagher has always sought in her role, to have that sort of conversation across the chamber. That isn't the approach that the acting Leader of the Opposition, in her wisdom, has taken. I would recommend to your party room to consider whether or not it's in the long-term interests of a supposed party of government— Senator Scarr interjecting— Senator WONG: Well, her leader isn't. The PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr! Senator Hanson-Young?