Senator CHRIS EVANS (Western Australia—Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:13): I thank Senator Ronaldson for the question. I can indicate that I have no particular knowledge of the claims that the union is insolvent, but I do not interfere with investigations by Fair Work Australia. Senator Cormann: You're only the minister responsible! Senator CHRIS EVANS: Senator Cormann, I know your arrogance knows no bounds, but some of us as ministers act responsibly. Before I was interrupted by Senator Cormann I was indicating to the chamber in response to Senator Ronaldson's question that I have no particular knowledge of the claims made in the Australian newspaper today but I can reconfirm that, as Senator Ronaldson knows, Fair Work Australia on 18 August issued a statement when they clarified what was occurring in relation to their investigations into the Health Services Union. That statement was put out by Fair Work Australia on 18 August in relation to some claims made in the media earlier that day claiming that Fair Work Australia had commenced a new inquiry in these matters. Fair Work Australia put out a statement which said that the media report was incorrect. Senator RONALDSON: On a point of order: regarding that statement in relation to reports as to whether an inquiry had been finalised, that was not my question today. I ask the minister again whether he will as a matter of urgency please investigate this, having undertaken on Monday to take it on notice and provide me with an answer, which he has so far refused to do. Senator LUDWIG: What we now have from the opposition is not a point of order but what can be described as an opportunity to rise to their feet and re-ask the question. I submit there is no point of order. The minister has been answering the question as asked and, even though Senator Ronaldson did not go to it, the minister has been directly relevant to the question asked. The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is answering the question. The minister has 35 seconds remaining to answer the question. Senator CHRIS EVANS: In terms of the interjection made in that point of order by Senator Ronaldson, he was given a reply to the question that I took notice. I tabled it at the end of question time yesterday, so his claims in relation to that matter are false—and he knows them to be false. Senator RONALDSON: On the point of order: my claims indeed are not false and I ask the minister to withdraw that. The PRESIDENT: That is debating the issue. Senator ABETZ: It is one thing to assert that a senator's information is wrong or false; it is another thing to assert that it is knowingly false, as the Leader of the Government just did. That is what imputes motives and that is why it ought to be withdrawn. Senator CHRIS EVANS: Mr President, all I can say is that I looked directly at Senator Ronaldson when I incorporated it yesterday; he was in the chamber. If somehow my claim of 'knowingly' is misleading, given that I was looking at him and I incorporated it in the chamber I do not see what it is I have to withdraw. I am amazed that Senator Ronaldson seeks to deny the claim. But if that is your request, Mr President, I will withdraw if that helps. The PRESIDENT: I was not in the chamber. I understand Senator Evans has withdrawn. Senator Evans, you have still 19 seconds remaining. Senator CHRIS EVANS: Can I just be clear: this is a matter that is being investigated by Fair Work Australia. They issued a statement on 18 August that updated the public as to where their inquiry was at, and all I can do is point Senator Ronaldson to that statement.