Senator McGAURAN (Victoria) (14:38): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Senator Conroy: There is a blacksmith shop going cheaply in Ballarat. The PRESIDENT: Order, on my right! Senator McGauran is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator McGAURAN: And the DLP hate the Labor Party. That's why I kept them going. Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McGauran, ignore the interjections on my right. Senator Sherry: Mr President, how can that possibly be a supplementary question? The PRESIDENT: Senator Sherry, there is no point of order. Senator McGauran, you have a supplementary question. I am giving you the opportunity now to ask that supplementary question. Senator McGAURAN: That interjection by me was a bit outrageous. I will ask my supplementary question. Minister, it defies belief that such a good minister as yourself would not have spoken to Mr Ferguson about his comments. I ask with some confidence: was the Minister for Resources and Energy's admission that mines may close based on modelling? If so, what modelling?