Senator ABETZ (Tasmania—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Employment) (14:09): The simple fact is that we would not need to have this budget levy bill but for the deficit and debt disaster left to us by the previous Labor and Green government. So let us make no mistake as to the genesis of this particular legislation. As is the wont with budgets, they go through all the normal processes, as did this particular budget. I also make the point that we on this side of the parliament actually embrace a great diversity of points of view within our parliamentary party. Unlike all those shoehorned into the party courtesy of the trade union movement and the trade union hacks that live on the other side, we have people who are willing to express a differing point of view without any fear of expulsion. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Abetz, you might resume your seat. Senator Abetz is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator Moore: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. We have heard the beginning of the discussion and are yet to hear an answer to the specific question about consultation with the backbench. I ask you to draw the minister's attention to the question. The PRESIDENT: As I have said previously, I cannot tell the minister how to address the question. The minister has been going for one minute and two seconds and the minister still has 58 seconds in which to address the question. There is no point of order. Senator ABETZ: Mr President, I can understand that Senator Moore did not hear my answer, because of the bellowing of Senator Kim Carr. But what I did say to the Senate very clearly was that the budget had gone through the normal processes that budgets always go through. That is my answer to that particular part of the question. Having said that, can I remind those opposite that we actually do allow freedom on our side of the parliament. People can express a point of view without the fear of expulsion, which is one of the great faults of the Australian Labor Party. They claim to represent and embrace diversity, but never diversity of views within the caucus—because, if there is, you will be expelled. It is not so on this side. Having said that, the government is committed to the debt levy bill and we are pleased that it looks as though it will go through—(Time expired)