Senator RONALDSON (Victoria) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Sport, Senator Arbib. I refer the minister to a report by Andrew Clennell in last Friday's Daily Telegraph which states that Minister Arbib: ... brokered the deal between Prime Minister Julia Gillard's office and NSW Labor. Can the minister confirm that he participated in a discussion with the member for Dobell and the Prime Minister, or the Prime Minister's office, in relation to the payment by New South Wales Labor of the member for Dobell's legal fees following his discontinued defamation action against Fairfax? The PRESIDENT: The minister can only answer that part of the question that refers to his portfolio matters. Senator Chris Evans: On a point of order, Mr President: I think that puts the minister in a really difficult position. I do not think that there was anything there that vaguely related to the minister's portfolio responsibilities. Nothing in the question related to his ministerial responsibilities. On that basis, I do not think there is anything Senator Arbib can say. Therefore, I ask you to rule it out of order so that Senator Arbib would not be required to answer because there was nothing put to him that related to his portfolio responsibilities. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! It does not help me when people are shouting across the chamber. Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on the point of order. There are two points I wish to make. First of all, under standing order 72, the question must relate to public affairs. There are a series of prohibitions in standing order 73 and none of those prohibitions would prohibit the asking of this question. The second point is that it has always been the case, both in this chamber and in the House of Representatives, that questions bearing upon a minister's fitness to hold his ministerial office are permitted. This question goes directly to whether or not Senator Arbib was, as a minister, party to a cover-up or an attempted cover-up concerning the affairs of Mr Thomson, the member for Dobell. I can understand why the Labor Party want to cover it up. I can understand why the Labor Party want to prevent the Senate inquiry into it. The fact is that because it goes directly to the minister's fitness for office, it is entirely within standing orders. Senator Conroy: Mr President, I rise on a point of order— Senator Chris Evans: Who won't you slur up this time, George? Just think of a run with Alan Jones and slur up anybody. Senator Conroy: On my point of order, Mr President: I would ask you to rule Senator Brandis's arguments completely out of order. No part of that question is in order—none whatsoever—and nor is Senator Brandis's attempt to drag irrelevant standing orders and irrelevant slurs into the debate. You should rule it out of order or, at a minimum, ask Senator Ronaldson to explain who paid David Davis's legal bills— The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy, now you are arguing the issue. Senator Abetz: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. Before we continue our discussion on the broader point of order, the Leader of the Government clearly reflected on the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and his remarks should be withdrawn. The PRESIDENT: I will review that— Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, I want to be helpful. I asked Senator Brandis who he wouldn't slur up. That is what I said. If that is out of order, I withdraw it. I do not think it is. It is a genuine question and one that occurred as a result of what he said about Senator Arbib. If it is out of order, I would withdraw it, of course. The PRESIDENT: I understand it has been withdrawn. Is that what you said? Senator Chris Evans: No. If you rule it out of order— The PRESIDENT: I think it would help the afternoon if you were to withdraw that. Senator Chris Evans: In order to make your afternoon better, Mr President, I withdraw. Senator Faulkner: On a further point of order, Mr President— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator Faulkner: You probably will not disagree with this, if you just listen for a change. It would also have helped the chamber and the afternoon if, when Senator Evans was on his feet, the microphone had been turned on. While senators in this part of the chamber might care to make comment on the point of order, unfortunately it was absolutely inaudible in this part of the chamber. The PRESIDENT: I will say what I said at the outset. I listened to the question closely and I made a ruling that was consistent with that made by other presidents before me, so it is consistent with what has been said before. The minister need only deal with that part of the question which is the responsibility of the minister in his portfolio. The other parts of that question can be ignored. It is up to the minister to answer the question.