Senator CROWLEY (2:47 PM) —My question is to Senator Hill, the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Does the minister agree with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Ian Campbell, that most Australians would give Dame Beryl Beaurepaire `the two fingers' because she dared to criticise the government's retreat from the United Nations committee system? Or will he take this opportunity to repudiate this offensive remark?

Senator HILL (Minister for the Environment and Heritage) —This has been a bad week for the Labor Party. Senator Crowley is not the first senator to come in here and repeat a question that has been asked previously this week—Senator Schacht did it yesterday. They are obviously not on the ball on the other side. Probably more embarrassing for the Labor Party is that, in this instance, the question was asked by the Australian Democrats. I would respectfully suggest that Senator Crowley should refer to the answer I gave the Australian Democrats earlier this week.

Senator CROWLEY —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. The Labor Party is aware of the Democrats' question and of the failure of the government to answer it. Why is the Howard government turning its back on Liberal Party elders such as Malcolm Fraser and Dame Beaurepaire and, instead, taking its lead from a former Democrat like Senator Ian Campbell?

Senator HILL (Minister for the Environment and Heritage) —I do not want to embarrass Senator Crowley, but I have to remind her that it was her leader in the Senate, Senator Faulkner, who took the cup of tea across to Senator Kernot and said, `Former Democrat, come with us. We will embrace you. We are the future.' With great respect, that was one of the dumbest contributions Senator Faulkner has ever made.