Senator MOORE (Queensland) (14:07): My question is to the Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister, Senator Nash. Yesterday, the Nationals' federal conference voted to 'reject the Finkel proposed clean energy target of 42 per cent of renewable energy by 2030'. Does this motion reflect the position of the Nationals' party room? The PRESIDENT: Senator Moore, this is purely a matter for the National Party. It doesn't fit within the minister's portfolio and it doesn't fit within the Deputy Prime Minister's portfolio, whom the minister represents. I feel as though this is not a matter that I can direct to the minister. Senator Wong? Senator Wong: On the point of order— The PRESIDENT: Well, there's no point of order; it's my ruling at the moment. Senator Wong: In respect of your ruling, this is a clean energy target that the Prime Minister has made clear that he's seeking to implement. This is a question that goes directly to whether or not the Deputy Prime Minister and the coalition partner support the government's policy. If the minister wants to read it down, we didn't ask her about the federal conference; we stated as a fact that this occurred at the federal conference and asked whether that was a reflection of the position of the coalition partner. The PRESIDENT: Attorney-General? Senator Brandis: Mr President, it does not relate to the minister's portfolio and, as you rightly apprehended, it is purely a party question. Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on both sides! You're wasting time, senators. As we have done in the past, I'm always happy to invite the senator to rephrase the question—which is provided for under our convention and the standing orders. Senator Moore, would you like to rephrase your question? Senator MOORE: Mr President, I was actually considering changing the direction of the question to Minister Birmingham in terms of the clean energy target— Government senators interjecting— Senator MOORE: In relation to the process in terms of the government position. The PRESIDENT: I'm very happy, Senator Moore, for you to redirect the question as well, but, if the question is purely about the happenings at the National Party conference, again I would deem that to be out of order. Senator Macdonald? Senator Ian Macdonald: I think you've rightly ruled that question out of order and, if Senator Moore can't ask the question properly, we should move on. It doesn't need me to point out that Senator Birmingham wasn't at the National Party conference, so he can't say what the National Party might or might not have done. But I ask you to stand by your ruling in ruling it out of order. The PRESIDENT: As I've indicated, it has been past practice, and the standing orders do provide, for the President to allow a senator to rephrase a question. I'm being very liberal on this occasion by allowing her not just to rephrase it but to redirect it. Senator Moore, I'll be listening carefully to your question. Senator MOORE: I do thank you for being very liberal. My question now is to the minister about energy. It's been widely reported that yesterday, at the National Party conference, there was a motion that looked at rejecting the Finkel position of around 42 per cent renewable energy by 2030. Given the public coverage of that issue, does it in any way impact on the government's position in this space, which has been widely discussed in this place, and is a government position, which includes both the National and the Liberal parties?