Senator KIM CARR (Victoria—Minister for Human Services) (14:36): Senator, Fierravanti-Wells, you have asked for a response that requires an opinion to be expressed by me, which is clearly outside the standing orders. What I can say is this: this opposition have pursued a vendetta against the member for Dobell, as we saw just this week in respect of his application for sick leave, where they sought to reject the opinion of a medical practitioner. Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. There is no part of what Senator Carr has just said that is remotely relevant to the question. He may have 36 seconds to go, but you may not allow a minister to engage in gratuitous abuse of the opposition that has no bearing on the question whatsoever in any part of his answer. The PRESIDENT: Order! Wait a minute, Senator Evans. You will get the call, but I need silence behind you. Minister. Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, on the point of order: given the question was allowed, it was a complete slur on a member of parliament in the other House. It was a complete slur designed to denigrate; and, therefore, the answer has been directly relevant as it deals with that slurring of a member. I am not sure that the question should have been allowed; but, if it is, the answer is directly relevant. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Minister, you have 36 seconds remaining. Senator KIM CARR: The only vendetta that is being pursued here is by the opposition against the member for Dobell. In rejecting the advice of a medical practitioner, unprecedented action has been taken by those opposite. It is unprecedented action to reject the opinion of a medical professional in regard to a sick leave application and medical certificate. If you want to talk about vendettas— The PRESIDENT: Senator Carr, you need to come to the question. Senator KIM CARR: I have not finished. This is exactly the sort of thing we can expect from a scurrilous opposition whose views on Work Choices are that they want to apply the same rules to every worker in this country. (Time expired)