Senator CHRIS EVANS (Western Australia—Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:06): Mr President, I am sure none of it relates to my portfolio but I am happy to say to Senator Ronaldson, as I have consistently said, that any allegations of wrongdoing by any private citizen ought to be taken to the appropriate authorities, be they police or other appropriate authorities. If he has any information of wrongdoing then he ought to provide that to the police or other authorities without trying to put in the political fix beforehand. Senator Ronaldson: Mr President, I refer to your letter to senators dated 25— The PRESIDENT: This is now debating the issue. Senator Ronaldson: No, this is a point of order. The PRESIDENT: If you wish to take the point of order, take the point of order. Government senators interjecting— Senator Ronaldson: If the other presidents in the chamber will let me continue with my point of order, then I am happy to do so. The PRESIDENT: The point of order, Senator Ronaldson! Senator Ronaldson: Mr President, in your letter to senators dated 25 August, you said in the third dot point that: Questions may be put to a minister … or to any matter of administration for which the minister is responsible in a personal or representative capacity. I put to you that he, as a member of the Labor Party, is forced and required to answer a question in relation to Mr Williamson. The PRESIDENT: That is a reflection on the chair. If I heard you correctly, I think you should withdraw. Are you reflecting on my position? Senator Brandis interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Excuse me, I am talking to him! Senator Brandis: I am talking to myself. The PRESIDENT: Well, you talk to yourself. Senator Ronaldson, are you talking about my position as the President of the Senate? Senator Ronaldson: No, Mr President, I am quoting from your letter— The PRESIDENT: No, I understand that. Senator RONALDSON: I have quoted from your letter. The PRESIDENT: No, you cannot argue. Senator Ronaldson: Mr President, your letter indicates that questions can be asked of ministers on any matter of administration which the minister is responsible for in a personal or representative capacity. The PRESIDENT: That is correct. Senator Ronaldson: Thank you. I was not reflecting on you at all. I am asking you to rule that this is a question on a matter for which the minister is responsible in a personal capacity and that he should be answering the question. The PRESIDENT: I will rule that there is no point of order. I have asked the minister in addressing the second supplementary question to address that part of the question which goes to his portfolio. The minister has already outlined in the first 25 seconds of his answer his response to part of the question. If the minister has anything else to continue with, he may now do so. Senator CHRIS EVANS: Well, Mr President, on the basis of that I will have to answer questions on the poor form of the Fremantle Football Club, which will put me under enormous pressure. If the opposition have allegations to make, they ought to take them to the police or other authorities. I have no responsibility for these matters and have no personal knowledge of them. So clearly I am not able to assist in terms of reporting to the Senate. But I do think that all senators ought to think carefully about whether trying to prosecute allegations of criminal behaviour in the Senate is appropriate (Time expired)