Senator CHRIS EVANS (Western Australia—Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:02): Senator Brandis continues in the vein that the opposition struck yesterday, and it seems to me that they should have got over it yesterday. The best the opposition can do is again to seek to try to muckrake and make cheap political points. Aren't you interested in jobs? Aren't you interested in the economy? Aren't you interested in education? Aren't you interested in health? Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. On the question of direct relevance: I know the minister has only been going for 25 seconds, but you have ruled before that ritualised abuse of the opposition is not relevant. The fact that the opposition chooses to call attention to the fact that the government is falling apart before our eyes is surely something which is entitled to a directly relevant response. Senator CHRIS EVANS: I rise in support of ritualised abuse of the opposition—I think it has a lot to commend it! The question from Senator Brandis was wide-ranging political drivel, and I suspect he will get a response in a similar vein. The PRESIDENT: Senator Brandis, you are quite correct: 25 seconds have been taken up answer in the question. The question is wide-ranging— Senator Ian Macdonald: He hasn't gone anywhere near it; he's just abused the opposition. The PRESIDENT: Order! I do not need your interruption. The question has been asked of the minister, and I have ruled that there is no point of order. The minister has one minute and 35 seconds remaining. Senator CHRIS EVANS: In representing the Prime Minister and the education minister in this place, I expected to get serious questions about the Gonski report—a serious policy issue confronting Australia of how we fund and support schools, how we educate our children and how we ensure that they get the best chance in life. But do I hear a question about the Gonski report? No. Do I hear a question about tertiary education, about skills, about science and research? No. What I get is political rhetoric from Senator Brandis. The tactics committee spent all morning writing this list of rhetorical abuse and criticism of the government when I think the Australian people are more interested in issues to do with the education of their children and issues to do with the health of their families. They are interested in jobs, the economy and the government's plans to continue to grow our economy and create opportunities. I think the Australian people will look at these sorts of questions and say: 'What's happened the Liberal Party? Why have they so lost the plot that they think this sort of political nonsense is of any interest to us?' They want to know what the government is doing and why we are focused on the economy, jobs, health and education. I suggest that the opposition ask some serious questions of the government if they take their role seriously.