Senator WONG (South Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (14:00): My question is to the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sinodinos. I refer to the Assistant Treasurer's ministerial responsibilities, which include business law and practice, and to the statement of ministerial standards which demand that in their private conduct ministers must uphold the law and demonstrate high standards of personal integrity. Was the Assistant Treasurer appointed a director of Australian Water Holdings at the same time he was Treasurer of the New South Wales Liberal Party? Was the true purpose of his appointment to open lines of communication with the Liberal Party? Senator Abetz: On a point of order, all those questions clearly relate to matters prior to Senator Sinodinos— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Abetz, resume your seat. You are entitled to be heard in silence. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: When there is silence on both sides we will proceed—both sides! Senator Abetz: Thank you, Mr President. My point of order is this: all the questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate clearly relate to matters prior to Mr Sinodinos becoming Senator Sinodinos let alone becoming Minister Sinodinos and, as a result, they clearly do not apply or have no relationship to his ministerial responsibilities. Therefore, the question should be ruled out of order. Senator Moore: Mr President, on the point of order, the question relates specifically to issues to do with Minister Sinodinos's own portfolio, the portfolio he holds now, and behaviours that are covered currently by his portfolio responsibilities. Secondly, the minister has previously made a statement in this chamber on questions of a similar kind which he as referred to a number of times in answers that he has given. So specifically in this case it relates to issues about which now he has responsibility—business law and practice, corporate financial services and security laws and these processes. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! So that everyone is clear: a question must be answered only insofar as it relates to ministerial responsibility—in other words, the public affairs with which the minister is officially connected, proceedings pending in parliament or any matter of administration for which the minister is responsible in a personal representative capacity. However, an answer may provide clarification of statements made by ministers, even if the statements are not clearly within their ministerial responsibility. The keyword is 'ministerial responsibility'. So I rule: on the question that has been asked insofar as it goes to the ministerial responsibility of the minister, the minister needs to respond to that part of the question which directly relates to ministerial responsibility— Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! And I call the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sinodinos.