Senator COLSTON —by leave-During the debate on the matter of public importance a short time ago, I made some statements towards the end of my speech about the number of honourable senators whose speeches had been interrupted when quorums were called. It is quite in order for any honourable senator to draw the state of the House to the attention of the Chair. Normally in this chamber that is done only rarely but there has certainly been open warfare this afternoon. That open warfare started from the Opposition benches.

Senator Peter Baume —Not so.

Senator COLSTON —It is so. That is the point that I want to make. When I sought leave a short time ago to make a personal explanation on this matter I was refused leave but I told Senator Messner across the chamber, I must confess in a disorderly way, Mr Deputy President--

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Your remarks were not audible to the Chair, Senator.

Senator COLSTON —Thank you, Mr Deputy President. I made the comment that the quorum was first called when Senator Grimes was speaking. That was denied but that is in fact so. I wish to indicate what happened this afternoon. The first person to speak in the debate on the matter of public importance was Senator Messner. He was heard in relative silence and was not interrupted. The second person to speak was the Minister for Social Security, Senator Grimes. He had been speaking for only a short time when Senator Kilgariff drew the attention of the occupant of the Chair, who at the time was Senator Sibraa, to the state of the House, whereupon a quorum was then called. So the action was initiated from the Opposition benches. The next person to speak was Senator Martin. A quorum was called when she was speaking. I do not know why but I should imagine it was in response to the fact that a quorum was called during Senator Grimes's speech. The next person to speak was Senator Crowley who, if I remember correctly, was twice interrupted. She was followed by Senator Hamer. At that stage the Government did not continue what had happened all afternoon. Senator Hamer was not interrupted and neither was Senator Haines. I was the next person to speak and I was interrupted twice. The point that I really want to make is that it was intimated earlier that the action commenced on this side of the chamber. The action did not commence on this side; it commenced on the Opposition side when Senator Kilgariff drew Senator Sibraa's attention to the state of the House while Senator Grimes was speaking.