Senator BOB CARR (New South Wales—Minister for Foreign Affairs) (14:17): On 3 May the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, announced that Defence would commence work on a new Defence white paper, to be delivered in the first quarter of 2013. As outlined in the 2009 Defence white paper, this process involves a new white paper at intervals of no more than five years. However, there have been a number of significant developments since the 2009 white paper which are influencing Australia's Defence budget, Defence posture and future for structure. The government is of the view that we need to review our strategic settings in light of these developments through a white paper process which will include: (1) the Australian Defence Force's post-operational challenges, including transition in Afghanistan and draw-down in East Timor and the Solomon Islands; (2) the Australia Defence Force Posture Review, which addressed a range of national— Senator Johnston: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. I asked if the three per cent in the white paper of 2009 is still extant. I think the minister should come to the question. Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, on the point of order. The minister was being directly relevant to the question about policy, the white paper and the government's plans. He was absolutely directly on the issue raised by Senator Johnston in his question. I suggest to Liberal senators who insist on taking a point of order at least once, if not two or three times, that they are preventing the Senate from dealing with more questions both from themselves and from other members of the Senate. I suggest that it is a complete waste of the Senate's time and that it undermines question time. The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is answering the question. The minister has one minute and five seconds remaining. Senator BOB CARR: One might note what aspect of Defence spending would be secure with a government that says it is going for a $15 billion surplus. What would be secured with that commitment? Senator Williams: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I ask that you ask the minister to address his comments to you. This is not the New South Wales parliament, where he always addressed his benches. He must answer his question to you, as the question is put to you, and he must be asked to address his answer through you, the President. The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order. Senator Bob Carr, you have 51 seconds remaining. Senator BOB CARR: What an aspersion to cast on the parliament of the mother colony! All our freedoms stem from that building in Macquarie Street, the first of the Australian parliaments. The PRESIDENT: Come to the answer, Senator Bob Carr. Senator BOB CARR: The second factor is the Australian Defence Force Posture Review, which addressed a range of national security questions. The third factor is the ongoing effects of the global financial crisis, which since the 2009 Defence white paper has continued to unfold with unexpected severity and duration. The fourth factor is the ongoing need to drive reform in our Defence establishment. The government also needs to ensure that Defence spending is calibrated— Senator Brandis: Mr President, on a point of order, you have given the minister latitude to address the background of the government's considerations of the various criteria that go into its decision making. The question was specific: whether the three per cent real increase was still the policy of the government. In the two seconds remaining, the minister can answer that question—yes or no. The opposition accept the latitude you have given the minister to paint the context, but we have not had an answer. There is time for there to be an answer, and I ask you to direct the minister, in the time remaining to him, to tell us whether it is the government's policy or not. The PRESIDENT: I cannot direct the minister how to answer the question. I have said this on numerous occasions in this place before. I can draw the minister's attention to the question and to answer the question, but I cannot tell a minister how to answer the question. The minister has two seconds remaining. Senator BOB CARR: The white paper funding commitment of three per cent real growth— (Time expired)