Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I do not think it is appropriate for the minister to tell a senator who asked a legitimate question in question time that they can ask it in estimates, which is coming in a few weeks. I know the government has grown arrogant with its power in the Senate, but surely it is not appropriate for a minister to brush off a serious question about the rights of employees in this country that directly relates to his primary answer about the work of the office by saying to the senator that they have no right to have the question answered at this time. I ask you to ask the minister to properly deal with the question in accordance with the standing orders of the Senate.