Senator RONALDSON (Victoria) (14:04): Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I refer the minister to comments made by the HSU's Kathy Jackson on Lateline, where she said: I think that this is another Sussex Street special where they think they can disaffiliate and then, once all this heat is off the Government, the Sussex Street boys will … have the union going back into the ALP. Aren't the disaffiliation of the HSU from the ALP and Michael Williamson's subsequent resignation as party VP simply a Sussex Street smokescreen designed only to protect this government? The PRESIDENT: I have to rule that out of order. I cannot accept that that is within the standing orders. I cannot. In the other parts of the question I could see that there might be parts relevant to the minister's portfolio. That part I cannot see the relevance of. Senator Ronaldson: Point— The PRESIDENT: I have ruled it out of order. Senator Abetz: Mr President, in the quote, there was a direct reference to taking heat off the government. If you are saying that a matter that relates to the government cannot be relevant to the person who represents the Prime Minister in this place, we will have come to a very sorry pass. I invite you, Mr President, to reconsider your ruling. Senator Ludwig: Mr President, on the point of order: Robin Hood does not have a longer bow than that grasped by the opposition. The ruling that you made was absolutely correct. There was nothing within that question that came remotely close to the minister's portfolio, and to rely on that sliver in context is completely out of order. Your ruling is correct, Mr President. The PRESIDENT: I am going to stick with my ruling. I will review the matter post question time and, if there is a need to come back to the chamber, I will.