Senator CONROY (Victoria—Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:51): As I was saying, the advice went on to say it was open to the government to decide to terminate the tender process on public interest grounds on the basis that a fair and defensible tender process outcome may now not be able— Senator Ludlam: Mr President, I rise on a point of order in terms of relevance. The minister is simply reading from a prepared statement that was written well before I asked my questions. I would ask him to address the specific questions. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on both sides! I am trying to listen to Senator Ludlam and it is very hard when you are interjecting. Start again, Senator Ludlam. Senator Ludlam: Mr President, I just seek you to direct the minister to answer the questions that I have actually asked. That is all I am seeking. Honourable senators interjecting — The PRESIDENT: You are chewing up question time. Senator Ludwig: Mr President, on the point of order: the minister could not be more directly relevant to the question. The minister is making a statement to parliament. He is taking the Senate through the steps and explaining the process quite thoroughly. If those opposite, including the Greens, did listen to Senator Conroy, they would find he is taking us through this circumstance in great detail. The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is answering the question. The minister has 48 seconds remaining. Senator CONROY: As I was saying, the advice said it was open to the government to decide to terminate the tender process on public interest grounds on the basis that a fair and defensible tender process outcome now may not be able to be achieved. The government will now consider the full range of options for the awarding of this contract and will make a decision no later than March next year. As I have said, the government is extremely disappointed that these leaks have occurred and that the tender process has been compromised. However, the government has taken the decision that it is in the public interest that the process be terminated. Put simply: it is no longer possible to be certain what each bidder knew about their rival's bid. This decision has not been taken lightly, but the government acted on the legal advice it had received from the Australian Government Solicitor. (Time expired)