Senator CHRIS EVANS (Western Australia—Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:03): Mr President, I do not know whether that question is in order. It certainly does Senator Ronaldson no credit to make some allegation and then suggest that I was supporting some sort of behaviour when I had not even given an answer to the question. It does him no credit at all. I think Senator Birmingham gave you good advice as a general opposition yesterday when he made the observation that members of parliament should not set themselves up as court and jury. I do not have the direct quote, but it was a very well made observation, one with which I agree. It is the advice I myself gave to Senator Brandis the day before and it is advice I give to Senator Ronaldson. Senator Brandis: Why should we turn a blind eye to breaches of the law? Senator CHRIS EVANS: We do not prosecute them in this chamber, senator. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Ronaldson: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. It is hard to disagree with the comment made by Senator Cormann. My point of order is in relation to relevance. The minister has not in any way attempted to answer what was a very specific question in relation to— Senator CHRIS EVANS: It was a slur. Senator Ronaldson: As for the minister, I am quite happy for him, while he is answering this question, to also say whether or not there are different types of embezzlement. It is a quite simple question. Senator Ludwig: On the point of order, Mr President: it is inappropriate to now try to reword the question to bring it back within a sensible position, because what the question was was an utter slur and it should have been ruled out of order. I was not going to take a point of order on that because the minister can answer that part of the question which falls within his portfolio. But for the senator to then try to take a point of order to indicate that somehow it is a reasonable question that requires an answer and that it requires an answer that is directly relevant to the question is, I think, beyond the pale. There is no point of order. The PRESIDENT: I consider the minister is answering the question. Senator CHRIS EVANS: Mr President, this is again an instance where the opposition just seek to slur people. If people have allegations of misbehaviour they ought to take them to the police or to other relevant authorities. Senator Brandis interjecting— Senator CHRIS EVANS: No, Senator Brandis, it is not the role of the Senate to raise allegations and prosecute individuals. That has always been my view. I thought it would be yours. (Time expired)