Senator ABETZ (Tasmania—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Employment) (14:00): I will be answering this question on behalf of the government. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! When there is silence on my left, we will proceed. Senator ABETZ: Let's be perfectly clear: nobody on this side has ever blamed the workers for the demise of jobs. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator ABETZ: What we have sought to do on a regular basis, like Paul Keating, like the former Labor Prime Minister— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator ABETZ: Just in case honourable senators opposite did not hear, let me repeat: the government has never blamed the workers for the loss of jobs in the auto sector. What we have done is, like the former Labor Prime Minister, Mr Paul Keating, who blamed the union bosses in the AMWU for the loss of 100,000 manufacturing jobs—not what we on the coalition side say, but what a former Labor Prime Minister said about the trade union bosses in the AMWU, so let's be very clear that politically we have a bipartisan ticket— Senator Moore: Mr President, I rise on a point of order relating to relevance. In terms of the specific question asked by Senator Carr, I would ask the minister if it is possible that we could get back to that. Senator ABETZ: Mr President, on the point of order, the question specifically addressed the issue, alleging that the government had blamed workers, and I am debunking that, and absolutely so. The PRESIDENT: That is debating the issue— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, on both sides! There is no point of order. The minister still has 58 seconds remaining. Senator ABETZ: On 31 October 2013, Toyota issued a media release saying they needed to take 'urgent action' in relation to their workplace agreement to ensure the future viability of their operation in this country. They said: … the proposed variation is needed if Toyota is to achieve its targets. And: … we need to modernise our work practices. That is what Toyota said on the 31st. Senator Wong: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The question was in relation to a meeting between the Treasurer and Toyota on 3 December— Government senators interjecting— Senator Wong: The point of order is relevance. And it was in relation to the confirmation of the report in the Financial Review today by the Treasurer on radio. It was not in relation to an October press release. It was a specific question in relation to the Treasurer's confirmation today and the Treasurer's report on the front page of the Financial Review. I would ask you to ask the Leader of the Government in the Senate, who has taken this question in lieu of the minister representing the Treasurer, to return to the question. The PRESIDENT: The minister has 28 seconds remaining. I remind the minister of the question. Senator ABETZ: So it would not be inconsistent with Toyota's position if they repeated that which they had said on 31 October in a media release in a discussion in December, given that Toyota had made no decision to close in December. So, of course, Toyota would not have blamed the union for anything in December. (Time expired)