Senator BOB CARR (New South Wales—Minister for Foreign Affairs) (14:08): The first point to make is that this matter is in the court, where it belongs. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator BOB CARR: It is in the court! The second point to make— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! When there is silence. Senator BOB CARR: Therefore, I stand absolutely by my comments that this matter should have gone straight to court and not been filtered through the political process. The second point I would make is this—and if the opposition regarded the comments that emerged in the court as repellent in their attitude towards women as we do on this side of the House, they would join me in giving an unqualified condemnation of those comments—that I am advised the government has entered into a deed with Mr Ashby which provides releases to the Commonwealth and gives effect to the settlement reached. The government takes sexual harassment in the workplace very seriously. That is the very reason that these matters belonged in the court from the first place, and did not belong— Senator Cormann: Why did you comment on Ashby before? Senator Jacinta Collins: You are going to have to ask Brandis why he commented on— The PRESIDENT: Order! When there is silence we will proceed. Senator Abetz: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The minister was asked two specific questions: does he stand by his previous public comments in this matter, that he was more rehearsed than a kabuki actor— Senator Bob Carr: Answered that—answered! Senator Abetz: He stands by that—thank you very much. And whether Mr Slipper— The PRESIDENT: Order! Just wait a minute: it is improper to debate the matter across the chamber. You are quite entitled to make a point of order, and if someone wishes to take another point of order based on the matter before the chair that is an entitlement that exists. So I discourage people from debating it across the chamber. Senator ABETZ: If I may: given Senator Carr's interjection, I withdraw my first request because it is now on the record that Senator Carr acknowledges that he stands by his previous public comments. The PRESIDENT: Order! That is debating the issue! Senator ABETZ: I therefore move to the second aspect of my point of order, which was whether or not the minister believes that Mr Slipper is now an international embarrassment. Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, I would urge you to rule that there is no point of order. Despite the question probably being out of order in the sense that it did not refer to the minister's ministerial responsibilities, he has been giving a comprehensive and fulsome answer. There is no point of order. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. The minister has 31 seconds remaining. Senator BOB CARR: I want to inform the Senate that mediation was held with all parties last week. I am advised that the government's hope with this was that this process would bring about settlement between all parties. Unfortunately, the mediation was unable to settle the matter between Mr Ashby and Mr Slipper. The terms of the settlement are public, and they include an express provision that the Commonwealth does not accept liability. As anyone who has been in these matters— (Time expired)