Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:33): Mr President, I have answered the question about the eligibility for assistance for self-funded retirees. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I draw the attention of senators on both sides to the fact that question time will not proceed until there is silence. Senator WONG: There are a lot of things said in this chamber and I obviously have not heard everything that every senator has said in this debate. What I can say is that I have outlined in my previous answer the assistance the government is providing to self-funded retirees who receive the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance: everyone in the Senate heard Senator Feeney interject, in response to the question, that the answer was none. The supplementary question merely asks the minister whether she agrees with what Senator Feeney said. Nothing she has said in her answer to the supplementary question is relevant to the issue of whether she agrees with Senator Feeney's assertion that the answer is none. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Not everyone in the Senate heard Senator Feeney's comment. Let me assure you, Senator, I did not hear the comment because of the noise that was coming from my left, so you cannot make the accusation that everyone heard the comment that was made. If silence were maintained in this chamber, then there may well be an opportunity for me to hear everything that goes on. But it is very difficult sometimes, and I can assure you I did not hear any comment. If others did, I certainly did not, and whether it was because of the noise that came from either side of this place, I cannot tell you. Senator Ronaldson: On the point of order, Mr President: perhaps Senator Feeney could clarify the situation so we are not in this difficult situation. The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order. Senator Marshall, resume your seat; we are still taking points of order. Senator Abetz. Senator Abetz: Thank you, Mr President. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Abetz, this highlights the difficulty—on both sides. You were on your feet, and there were people on your side who were making it very difficult for me to hear you, then there were people who came in from my right who made it equally difficult. You, like any other senator when they are on their feet in this place, are entitled to be heard, and I am going to see that that happens. Senator Abetz, you are entitled to be heard in silence, as is the minister when they are on their feet as well. Senator Abetz: Thank you, Mr President. Sessional orders require that a minister be directly relevant to the question that was asked. With great respect, whether or not you or any other senator heard what Senator Feeney clearly interjected—whether it was heard or not—is irrelevant to the question that was asked; namely, whether or not the minister agrees with Senator Feeney, who said that no self-funded retiree would be worse off, and she needs to answer that question. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, on the point of order— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Wait a minute, Senator Evans. I know it is Thursday. I know people are a little bit excited on both sides. But it makes it very difficult when people on both sides are interjecting. Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, the question from Senator Fierravanti-Wells went to the compensation arrangements for self-funded retirees under the government's climate change plans. The minister, Senator Wong, has been directly on the topic in trying to provide the Senate with information about the nature of that compensation package and how the implementation of a carbon price would impact on that group of Australians, so there is no point of order. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, you have 22 seconds remaining to answer the question. Senator WONG: I am asked if I agree. I certainly agree with Senator Faulkner's assessment of Senator Abetz, but I am sure the senator will not want me to repeat that! I would again say— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator WONG: Right. Absolutely on point he was, Senator Abetz. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, address your comments to the chair. Senator WONG: Thank you, Mr President. I have referred to the government's linking of the assistance for self-funded retirees to the eligibility for the Commonwealth seniors healthcare card. (Time expired)