Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:36): I thank the senator for his question. I appreciate that he has actually had a look at the statement that was put down yesterday. It outlined a long-term vision for manufacturing in this country and highlighted the approach the government is taking to deal with the largest structural change we have seen for over two generations. And, of course, it is not a policy position that we have come out with in a kneejerk manner. It is not a policy response that we have come out with as if events had just occurred. From the day this government was elected we have worked on processes to ensure we have in train a policy response to the substantial changes that are occurring in our society. We understand the critical role science and research plays. The statement yesterday went to the process that we have in train to develop global R&D centres in this country— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Carr, resume your seat. When there is silence, we will proceed. The minister is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator CARR: What we have in train are processes to ensure that science and research are at the core of the transformation that is occurring in Australian companies as a result of the enormous pressures they are under. This is in the tradition of Labor. We have put forward a 10-year innovation strategy, Powering ideas. We have a 13-year strategy for a new car plan. Senator Colbeck: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. It was a specific question relating to whether the minister believes Mr Howes is wrong. It was not an opportunity for him to repeat the statement that he made yesterday. I was asking whether he believes that Mr Howes is wrong. I would ask you to bring him to the question. Senator Ludwig: Mr President, I rise on the point of order. The point of order taken was in relation to whether the minister was being directly relevant. The minister was being directly relevant. He was answering the question. What the opposition have now done is pick out not their entire question but a part of the question. The minister was addressing the entire question in his answer and was being directly relevant to it. The PRESIDENT: The minister is addressing the question. Senator CARR: It is obvious that I do need to encourage some of those who obviously inhabit the lower depths of the ponds in various parts of this country. Clearly we have a gross misunderstanding here about what the English language means. Senator Abetz interjecting— Senator CARR: We have the beady eyes of some of the great trolls of Australian politics staring at us now. The PRESIDENT: Senator Carr, just address the issue. Address the issue and address your comments to me. Senator CARR: I am very much addressing the issue. The fact that the Liberal Party has not even signed on to the Australian steel industry transformation scheme, that the Liberal Party actually opposes the policies we have in the automotive transformation scheme— (Time expired)