Senator CONROY (Victoria—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:13): Could I thank the senator for his question. Unlike those opposite, those on this side of the chamber have always been the champions of the superannuation in this country. Those opposite now seek to spread fear and uncertainty. The far-sighted reforms that the former Labor government and current Labor government have introduced have been met with opposition from all of those opposite—both now and previously. Let me quote to you from Mr Tony Abbott in 1995 in the debate in parliament. He said, 'Compulsory superannuation is one of the biggest'— Senator Cormann: Mr President, I rise on a point of order relating to the requirement for the minister to be directly relevant. Australians saving for their retirement across Australia need the minister to be directly relevant to the question. The question was very specific: does the government intend to keep its promise that it would never remove tax-free payments for superannuants over 60—yes or no? Nothing else can be directly relevant to that question. The PRESIDENT: Firstly, on the point of order, I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question. That has been a longstanding situation in this chamber. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! If you did not interject and had waited, you would have heard the whole context of what I had to say. I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question. The next part I was going to say, if people had been patient and had waited, was that I draw the minister's attention to the question and the minister has one minute and one second remaining. Senator CONROY: Thank you, Mr President. To finish the quote, Mr Abbott said: Compulsory superannuation is one of the biggest con jobs ever foisted by government on the Australian people. We do not resile from being the champions of superannuation in this country against those opposite— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Conroy, come to the question. Senator CONROY: who have got no interest except to take away superannuation. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I am calling Senator Conroy to address the question. He has 29 seconds. Senator CONROY: Perhaps those opposite, instead of trying to spread fear and uncertainty, should address their $70 billion black hole. In asking questions like they are asking today, they choose simply— Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The minister has ignored your direction three times now. He was asked whether or not the government stood by a commitment. That is all the question was about, as you acknowledged when you on three occasions directed him to the question, and on three occasions he has ignored you. Mr President, I ask you to assert your authority and either insist on a direct answer or sit the minister down. The PRESIDENT: Order! I ruled at the outset, at the one minute and one second left to answer mark, that the minister could not be instructed how to answer the question. The second thing that I then did was to draw to the minister's attention the question and that the minister should address the question. I know that I have subsequently asked the minister to address the question that is before the chair and the minister now has 13 seconds remaining to address the question. Senator CONROY: Those opposite seek to play that old traditional game of rule in rule out. I certainly will not be engaging in their fantasies about yes, no, rule in, rule out. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order!