Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (16:20): I would argue that the motion is urgent. It is urgent because it's important. It's urgent because it's important, and it's important because it goes to a series of questions that go to the question that the senator was proposing to ask itself. It goes materially to the urgency of that question. It goes to the rights of senators, particularly backbench senators in this Senate, 19 of them, whom yesterday's resolution would disenfranchise entirely by deliberate design from a majority resolution of this Senate. It's important and it's urgent because it goes to the conventions and the kind of modes of behaviour and the modes of operation that a minority chamber demands. That's why it's important and it's urgent. I can tell you that, in addition to that, it is urgent because what it does is expose the lack of political judgement and the lack of interest in the democratic institutions that are engaged and the democratic principles that are engaged in this place. It is not a majority chamber. It is a chamber where there are a series of parties, none of whom commands a majority themselves. What that means is that conventions really matter and that, if you adopt an approach which is all about trying to impose, by majority will, on the chamber to exclude people— Senator Ruston: On a point of order—or maybe you could ask for a point of clarification—on 'enforce the majority view', I was wondering if the minister might— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, you know very well that's a debating point. Please resume your seat. Senator AYRES: Fundamentally, what has been exposed this afternoon is the lack of judgement of those opposite and the self-absorption of those opposite. Senator McKenzie: Point of order, Madam President: I have not heard the urgency that the minister is going to. The PRESIDENT: The minister is being directly relevant to the question. I will continue to listen very closely. Senator AYRES: This is a series of parties who pretend to aspire to government and are entirely absorbed by themselves. Senator Scarr: Point of order, President: this is just general abuse. It's not going to the urgency point. The PRESIDENT: I will listen very carefully to the remainder of this sentence, and, as you should have observed by now, if any senator is not being relevant, I will remind them to be relevant. I am listening very carefully. Senator AYRES: As I said at the outset, this matter is urgent because it's important because it goes to the capacity of this chamber to perform its proper function. There have been some assertions made in this debate. I was listening to Senator McKenzie talk about the sovereign role of this chamber, and I was reminded of a question that was asked by one of the senators from One Nation, or a contribution earlier, where he quoted— The PRESIDENT: I've got Senator Scarr on his feet. Senator Scarr: Again, Senator Ayres is now drifting off to questions asked by One Nation. It doesn't go to the urgency in relation to the matter before the President. The PRESIDENT: Minister Ayres started off, if you were listening, by referring to a contribution that Senator McKenzie made, which was directly relevant. He has just, as you indicated, mentioned One Nation. If that is not relevant, I will draw him to the point, but he is being relevant, and give me an opportunity to hear the rest of his contribution. Senator AYRES: The senator referred to a constituent whose name, he alleged, was Carlos Montoya. I refer Senator McKenzie to the immortal words of Inigo Montoya, who said in The Princess Bride: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. That is the wrong approach— The PRESIDENT: You are not being relevant to the suspension. Senator Henderson. Senator Henderson: Another point of order. Could I ask that you ask the senator to direct his comments through the chair please. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Henderson. Minister Ayres, I remind you to direct your comments to me. Senator AYRES: And I will. I simply think that, as I indicated, this matter has some importance. It is urgent that it is dealt with this afternoon. I'm entitled, absolutely, to respond to the contentions that are being made by others in this debate. We will continue to be here, available to answer questions, all afternoon, all night. We will be here all through next week answering questions, and, on that basis, I move: That the question be now put. The PRESIDENT: You wish me to address the point of order, Senator Scarr? The minister has sat down. Senator Scarr: He's talking about answering questions all evening. It's totally irrelevant. The PRESIDENT: The minister has now asked that the motion be put. I am going to move to that. The question is that the question be put. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I am just wondering how long I have to stand here. Senator McKenzie: Transparency warriors! The PRESIDENT: Oh, just continue on, Senator McKenzie, because we're all here for your benefit! I stood because this place was out of order. We are at adults, and, earlier this week, we passed a motion about respect. In the last 2½ hours, I have really struggled to see that. It is one thing to have a robust debate; it is quite another to ignore me when I call for order. The question is that the question be put.