Senator CHRIS EVANS (Western Australia—Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:18): Senator Ronaldson continues to attempt to slur anyone at all connected with the HSU, the investigation or Mr Thomson—anyone at all he thinks might be a possible target in his endeavours to get publicity from this issue. I knew Senator Ronaldson was going to ask me this question today because I read about it in the paper. It is no longer questions without notice—it is questions with notice. Senator Ronaldson: So what is your answer? Senator CHRIS EVANS: My answer is the same answer I have given Senator Ronaldson on numerous occasions: if people have concerns about criminal activity they ought to go straight to the police—they ought to go to the police and make their complaints and provide the police with any information they have. When the police launch an investigation, people ought to give their full cooperation and the police ought to be allowed to conduct those inquiries without political interference, Senator Brandis, and without people abandoning a lifelong commitment to the rule of law in order to get a cheap political headline. They ought to allow the police to fulfil their obligations and conduct their investigations, and when those investigations are completed we ought to then respond to any findings or any prosecutions they may lodge. We also then should of course allow people presumptions under natural justice while any trials occur. Those are the normal processes, as Senator Ronaldson well understands. This government will adhere to those processes. We have made it very clear that we support people taking any concerns they have about criminal activity to the police or other appropriate authorities. Senator Ronaldson well knows that there are police and Fair Work Australia investigations occurring into matters relating to the HSU. He ought to allow those investigations to be pursued without political interference and without anyone attempting to take political advantage of those proceedings.