Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:15): There are many people in this chamber who've spent much of their lives standing up against hatred and racism. One of the things that I have believed—which, clearly, you do not—is that we do best if we do that together and if we stand in solidarity together, even if we don't agree with each other on many things. I remember, as a young Asian Australian—oh, this is not legitimate? The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi? Senator Faruqi: I have a point of order on relevance. My question was specifically about the National Anti-Racism Framework. The PRESIDENT: Order! To those on my right, I'm running the Senate. Senator Faruqi, you also had quite a significant and broad-ranging introduction to your question, and the minister is being precisely relevant. Senator WONG: I remember, as a young Asian Australian—and I think I speak for many of my generation—how comforted we were by the bipartisan support for a non-discriminatory immigration system, including by members of the Liberal Party, and by bipartisan condemnation by many of Senator Hanson when she was in her first iteration. I want to acknowledge Senators Scarr and McLachlan for their principled stance yesterday because it speaks to a history of bipartisan support for respect and equality that we have in this country. Senator, what I would say to you is that we may not agree on everything, but, surely, people can stand together against racism, which is what this Senate sought to do yesterday. It saddens me that, instead, you chose to engage as much in an attack on me personally as on Senator Hanson. The PRESIDENT: Senator Allman-Payne? Senator Allman-Payne: I have a point of order on impugning the motivations of a senator. The PRESIDENT: Senator Allman-Payne, that is not a point of order. Minister Wong, did you wish to continue? Senator WONG: I think the motivations which were impugned in the question were mine. What I would say is that, all my life, including yesterday and in all the time in public life that I have had, I will stand against racism. On the National Anti-Racism Framework, that is a matter for the Attorney-General, and I will refer her— Senator Faruqi: You're standing up for racism! The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, I'm not sure if that comment was directed to Senator Wong. If it was, I will ask you to withdraw it. Senator Faruqi: It was directed to the Labor government. The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, in the interests of the chamber, I ask that you withdraw— Senator Waters interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I haven't finished speaking, Senator Waters, so I would like respect from you until I finish speaking, then I will come to you. Please resume your seat. Senator Faruqi, in the interest of the harmony that I am trying to establish in this chamber, I will ask you again, in the interests of the chamber, to withdraw that statement. Senator Waters? Senator Waters: On the topic of withdrawals, Senator Sterle has been a frequent, nasty contributor, and his latest contribution against Senator Faruqi must be immediately withdrawn. Senator Sterle interjecting— Senator Waters: He's just repeated it as well. The PRESIDENT: Senator Sterle! Order! Just a moment, Senator Ayres. I am going to restore order first. Senator Sterle, silence. Senator Waters, you've made a point of order. I am going to address it, but I will not address it until the chamber is quiet. Senator Sterle? Senator Sterle: It would be my pleasure to withdraw for you, President. Senator Ayres: On a point of order, I would seek that Senator Faruqi withdraw what she said. Prior to what she said, she said 'you'. There is no way possible to make an argument that that was a reflection upon the government. It was a snide, unserious personal attack and it ought to be withdrawn. Senator Faruqi: I withdraw. But this chamber has massive double standards. When a Labor member stands up and calls me a 'cretin' then you are standing up for racism. The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, resume your seat. Senator Faruqi, I asked you to withdraw. You are well aware of the standards that I seek: when I ask senators to withdraw, they withdraw without comment. So I am asking you to withdraw. Senator Faruqi interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, you are not in a debate with me. Senator Allman-Payne, resume your seat; I'm not going to come to you at the moment. Senator Faruqi, I would ask you to simply withdraw. Senator Faruqi: I have withdrawn. Senator McKim: I rise on a point of order. You have asked, and Senator Sterle has complied, to withdraw the first insult that he threw at Senator Faruqi. I now ask you to request that he withdraw the second insult. I won't repeat it but it started with an 'f'. I ask that you require him to withdraw the subsequent insult as well. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator McKim. You are also aware of my standard and I never allow senators to repeat an offence. I did not hear any of the offences. Senator Allman-Payne interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Allman-Payne, I am speaking. Sit down, please. Senator Sterle, if you made a second— Senator Sterle: I certainly did use a word beginning with 'f'. It wasn't the f-word but I will withdraw that, gratefully. The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, a first supplementary?