Senator LUDWIG (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister Assisting on Queensland Floods Recovery) (14:39): I thank Senator Colbeck for his question. The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation continues to operate and continues to do a very good job across all of the work that it does. It is a shame that you want to call into question the board's— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator LUDWIG: Well it is, quite frankly. I thought we would have had bipartisan support to make sure that we have the best possible people available. Senator Brandis: Mr President, I raise a point of order in relation to direct relevance. I know there are sometimes marginal cases in here but in answer to a question does a particular named statutory authority have a board, it is hardly possible for the minister to have been relevant in his answer so far when all he has been asked is whether it has a board or not. The PRESIDENT: The minister has been going for only 32 seconds. I am very conscious of the question and I am listening closely to the minister's answer. The minister has one minute and 28 seconds remaining to address the question. Senator LUDWIG: I thank Senator Brandis for his slight interjection and helpful comment. In terms of the management of the board, we are going through a system of replacing some members of the existing of the board. But let us be clear: that does not mean that the board is not operating. What we have done is call for— Senator Colbeck: It expired two weeks ago. Senator LUDWIG: I thank Senator Colbeck for his continued interest in the board. What we do have is a process to go through to reappoint the existing board. That does not mean that the board does not continue to operate. I have signed off under the PIERD Act the relevant need to have and appoint new members on the board. So, therefore, it will continue to operate when it next meets. It will be there in place to operate because— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator LUDWIG: Because that will be in place. It is quite clear.