Senator LUDWIG (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister Assisting on Queensland Floods Recovery) (14:13): I say that Fair Work Australia is cooperating with the relevant authorities on investigations. Why? Because it is an independent body. It is independent from government. It is independent from those opposite. Senator Brandis: That doesn't mean it's above the law, you fool! Senator LUDWIG: Again we get ill-informed interjections from those opposite because they do not like an independent body undertaking independent work without government interference. Those opposite are more likely to be complaining because they would want to interfere in the operation of Fair Work Australia. But, in terms of section 583 of the Fair Work Act, it states plainly and simply: The President is not subject to direction by or on behalf of the Commonwealth. Equivalent sections like that were in the Workplace Relations Act when the Liberals were in government. Senator Abetz: Mr President, on a point of order: standing orders require the minister to be directly relevant. This question was very narrow. It asked whether the minister acknowledged that the Fair Work Act empowers Fair Work Australia to disclose information that may assist in the enforcement of the law of the state. The answer is either yes or no and not this attack about the so-called independence of Fair Work Australia which is not even part of the issue. The PRESIDENT: You are now debating the issue. Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, on the point of order: the question probably should have been ruled out of order in that it sought a legal opinion from the minister. Senator Ludwig, being a cooperative and helpful chap, has attempted to provide as much information as he can in response to the proposition put to him, which goes to the Fair Work Act's powers and its responsibilities. As I say, Mr President, the question was probably out of order, but certainly Senator Ludwig has been directly on the topic and directly trying to assist the senator with a response to his question. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. I have been listening closely to the minister's answer. I cannot instruct the minister how to answer the question. I am listening closely to the minister's response. The minister is answering the question at this stage and has one minute and six seconds remaining. Senator LUDWIG: Mr President, as I was saying, there are three basic propositions: first of all, Fair Work Australia is independent and can investigate matters independently from government. That is confirmed if you go back to the Senate estimates of 15 February 2012 where the general manager said I am aware of the allegations that there has been political interference in the investigations and take them very seriously. I have absolutely no reason to conclude that there has been any such interference in the investigation. The General Manager of Fair Work Australia, as an independent body from government, can decide of his own choice how it should operate within its sphere of influence. The advice that has been sought and provided to Mr Shorten is that the act does not expressly preclude information being shared in certain circumstances but, of course, these are matters for the general manager to determine. (Time expired)