Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:01): I thank Senator Abetz for his question. What I can say with absolute certainty is that turning back boats on the high seas is reckless and dangerous for all those involved. That is the position of the Liberal Party, which would tell us that, when it comes to inconsistencies, they know no equal. When it comes to inconsistencies we have to look no further than the amendments that the Liberal Party has proposed in the House— The PRESIDENT: Senator Carr, I draw your attention to the question. You have one minute and 32 seconds. Senator CARR: Mr President, we are discussing the question of towing boats back to sea, which I say is a reckless position, which is the position of the Liberal Party, which has been reaffirmed by the Liberal Party. If we look to the amendments the Liberal Party have themselves moved in the House of Representatives, we know they say that no-one should be sent to any country unless it is a signatory to the human rights convention. Of course, their proposal is to send boats back to Indonesia, a country that is not a signatory to the human rights convention. We know that, as recently as Tuesday of this week— Senator Abetz: Mr President, I raise a point of order in relation to relevance. Clearly the minister is not being directly relevant as sessional orders require. The question was very simply in relation to Labor's promise in 2007 and if the position has changed why it has changed. The PRESIDENT: Senator Carr, you have 51 seconds remaining. I draw your attention to the question, as I did before. Senator CARR: I appreciate that, Mr President. When it comes to the refugee conventions I think it is important that the Liberal Party are in fact consistent. We do look to them as they obviously believe they have a monopoly when it comes to the question of moral indignation on human rights, despite their record! The PRESIDENT: Senator Carr, I draw your attention to the question. You have 34 seconds remaining. Senator CARR: Thank you, Mr President. The Liberal Party's attitude here is one of saying that they have a moral monopoly when it comes to the question of human rights, despite their appalling record. The PRESIDENT: Senator Carr. I do draw your attention to the question. You have 24 seconds remaining. Senator CARR: The Liberal Party really have, as I said before, more front than Myer when it comes to the question of human rights. Their alleged concern for human rights is a newfound discovery. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on both sides! Senator Carr, I draw your attention to the question again. You have five seconds remaining. Senator CARR: As far as the questions of the human rights conventions and the towing of boats back to sea, it is absolutely—(Time expired)