Ms GILLARD (Lalor—Prime Minister) (14:10): The carbon tax is designed to decrease carbon pollution. The carbon tax is designed so that our biggest polluters pay a price on carbon pollution. Opposition members interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms AE Burke ): A question has been asked. I would have thought people would like to hear the answer. Ms Julie Bishop interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned! Ms GILLARD: The carbon price is designed to reduce carbon pollution, just as when Prime Minister Howard announced that if he was re-elected in 2007 he would legislate an emissions trading scheme. The purpose of that price on carbon was to reduce carbon pollution, just as when Brendan Nelson was Leader of the Opposition and he was in favour of putting a price on carbon. The purpose of it was to reduce carbon pollution, just as when the member for Wentworth was the Leader of the Opposition and he advocated— Mr Pyne: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question could not have been any more straightforward and tight. The Prime Minister only needs to say whether it would increase or decrease electricity prices. That is the question she has to answer. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call and will return to the question before the chair. Ms GILLARD: I was asked what the carbon price was designed to do and I am explaining that. I am also explaining that former Prime Minister Howard, Brendan Nelson, the member for Wentworth and, for much of the time that he has been in the Australian parliament, the Leader of the Opposition fulsomely agreed with that proposition. He was in favour of carbon pricing, out there loud and proud, and of course he will return to that. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Prime Minister will return to the question before the chair. Ms GILLARD: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. In terms of the impact on electricity prices, the government has always been crystal clear about this. We said Australian households and Australian families should expect to see a 10 per cent increase in their electricity prices. They are seeing a 10 per cent increase in electricity prices, and because of that we have provided them with tax cuts, with family payment increases— Mrs Bronwyn Bishop: Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: A point of relevance has already been made. Mrs Bronwyn Bishop: I refer you to page 555 of the Practice, which points out that not all areas are covered by the standing orders relating to answers, including one of verballing the opposition. It does say, however, that you have the power to rule against that practice which the Prime Minister indulges in answer after answer, and verballing is not parliamentary practice. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Mackellar will resume her seat. The Prime Minister has the call. Ms GILLARD: The government has always said carbon pricing would affect electricity prices that families pay and that effect would be 10 per cent. It is 10 per cent, and because we knew that there would be that price flow-through we have provided tax cuts, family payment increases and pension increases. What that means is that on average families will see assistance of $10.10. The costs that they will see for electricity are $3.30 a week, the average assistance $10.10 a week. Of course, people have struggled with electricity price rises—the 50, 60 or 70 per cent that have proceeded because of the nature of the current electricity market and decisions taken by state governments. I am very concerned about the impact of that on Australian families, pensioners and people with fixed incomes and we intend to act on that. Of course, the Leader of the Opposition has described that as a furphy, in stark contrast to what is being said by his state colleagues. So we will act on electricity price rises that have come without any real assistance for people. The Leader of the Opposition well knows that carbon pricing has a flow-through impact for electricity—heavens above, he used to be in favour of it.