Senator WILLIAMS (New South Wales—Nationals Whip in the Senate) (15:11): I refer to an answer from Senator Wong to Senator Cormann today in relation to investments. Investment about this $120 billion black hole is very important, and we are learning a lot about investments today. In fact, the second piece of legislation in general business this morning was about ethical investments and was brought forward by the Greens, as we are talking about investments and how we are going to invest that Future Fund put away by the Howard government under that great Treasurer Peter Costello for retirement funds. It is quite amazing with these ethical investments. What is proposed—and perhaps some of this black hole filling may be used in the government's budget—is to invest in the potential effects of peace and stability. That is the proposal that has been brought in this morning. I refer to our investments and the $120 billion black hole. It is amazing that Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon has investments in a company called ERA, Energy Resources of Australia, a great company. Senator Ian Macdonald: What? A uranium company? Senator WILLIAMS: Yes, the fourth largest producer of uranium in the world. Senator Nash: Really? Senator WILLIAMS: Truly. That is what the statement of registered interests says. I do not know if the government invests the Future Fund in that. I do not know what the returns are; I think they are about $1.30 a share. But we have a Greens senator, and we may need to follow her advice, Senator Wong, with those potential investments to try and plug that $120 billion black hole. It might be a good investment for the Future Fund to help that black hole. Energy Resources of Australia Ltd— Senator Wong: Madam Acting Deputy President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. I was not asked anything in question time—given what is before the chair—that is at all relevant to ethical investment. The senator does have opportunities if he wants to give this speech. There are plenty of opportunities, as the senator knows, to make these sorts of contributions. He is entitled to make them if he wishes to—that is a matter for him. I understand that we have journalists here and he wants to make a point now, but there are times in the Senate program when he can— Senator Abetz interjecting— Senator Wong: I am just making the point that what is before the Senate is a motion to take note of answers in question time. This has nothing to do with anything that was asked or answered in question time, and there are plenty of opportunities at which he can make such a contribution. Senator Ian Macdonald: Madam Acting Deputy President, on the same point of order: fancy this minister, who has never answered a question and has never been relevant to the question asked of her, taking this point of order! The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Crossin ): Senator Macdonald, that is really not a point of order. That is a comment. Senator Ian Macdonald: It is her point of order I am talking on, Madam Acting Deputy President, and I would say Senator Williams is directly on the point of the investment question that was asked of this minister. The fact that she did not answer it does not mean it was not asked. Senator Wong: On the point of order, there was no question on investment. Senator Ian Macdonald: You can't have two goes on the same point of order! The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Williams, this is a session in which we take note of the answers given at question time, so I am going to remind you to direct your remarks to the questions that were given at question time. Senator WILLIAMS: I could not agree with you more. We are taking notice of all the questions today, and there were questions on the $120 billion black hole that Senator Wong, I am sure, agrees with. She referred to investments when she answered a question—or made out to answer the question—of my colleague Senator Cormann. I am saying about investments, in plugging that black hole, and there is a lot of money there to be invested in the Future Fund that was put there by the Howard government. I am saying the places you could invest that to get a better return might be companies like Energy Resources of Australia, a uranium-producing company that must be so good since Senator Rhiannon from the Greens actually invested in that company. Senator Siewert: I rise on a point of order. This is not relevant to the debate, and you are just trying to blacken the name of Senator Rhiannon. No wonder we have so many Nats in here today: it's so they can all see you make a fool of yourself! Senator Ian Macdonald: Madam Acting Deputy President, you will understand from the rulings of the President when Senator Conroy keeps talking about Mr Turnbull's investment and the President never takes any of that point of order raised. Senator Williams is quite within his right to continue the way he is. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, I have given my response, and that is that, Senator Williams, I am going to ask you to keep your comments directly relevant to the answers that were provided in question time today. Senator Abetz: Madam Acting Deputy President, I rise on a point of order. I invite you to take that ruling to the President for consideration. The successive rulings of the Deputy President in relation to taking note of answers is the acceptance that it is a wide, broad-ranging debate, especially in circumstances like the debate today, where it is in relation to every single question asked by the opposition—which, of course, included one question that actually named Senator Lee Rhiannon as well. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Yes, Senator Rhiannon's name was mentioned today, but it was not in the context of ERA. I have said time and time again and will repeat if you like: Senator Williams, your comments need to be related to the questions that were asked today and the answers that were given today. Otherwise, there are other times in the Senate where you can provide a response and a speech along the lines you are suggesting today. I ask you in the 2½ minutes that are remaining to be mindful of the questions that were asked and the answers that were given today. That is what you are taking note of. Senator WILLIAMS: I want to bring a point about this black hole today. One of the things we have seen from this government is that, because of this sovereign risk, we are not now seeing the Olympic Dam uranium mine proceed in South Australia. If that mine had proceeded, people would be employed, they would pay tax and that would help build some of the $120 billion hole that this government is facing. But the Australian Greens would shut down South Australia's signature economic project, the Olympic Dam uranium mine, if given the chance. That is the point I am making about where the investment is going. Senator Rhiannon, as I have said, invests in a uranium-producing company; however, the Greens want to shut down a project in South Australia that could help fill the budget black hole that this government faces. Senator Ian Macdonald: I can't believe it! Senator WILLIAMS: I will take your interjection. There will be many people who cannot believe this, but that is what has happened here. It has been revealed— Senator Ian Macdonald: That can't be on her register of interests. Senator WILLIAMS: It is on her register of interests. There it is if you want to look at it. The point I make is that, when it comes to filling this black hole, we know what this government is made up of. It is made up of the Greens, the Australian Labor Party—sorry, Senator Madigan; I almost said the Labor Party—and a couple of Independents. We are now getting closed down projects like Olympic Dam in South Australia, which will no doubt have a distinct effect on the budget revenues for the government in export revenue and profits, where they pay company tax. And part of that government alliance—the Greens—would shut down Olympic Dam tomorrow if it got going. Sadly, it has not got going. It has been put on ice. So it is quite ironic that we have people wanting to shut down Olympic Dam, it is not kicking off because of lack of faith in this government and Greens senators actually have shares in companies that produce uranium despite their hatred for uranium. The irony is simply amazing. Senator Cormann: Hypocrisy. Senator WILLIAMS: I will take your interjection. Yesterday we heard 'hypocrisy' from a male Greens senator in reference to Senator Sinodinos. He called him a hypocrite—not a very nice thing to say. Of course, I would not say that this is hypocrisy—well, I suppose it is, yes. (Time expired)