Senator FIERRAVANTI-WELLS (New South Wales—Minister for International Development and the Pacific) (14:31): I thank Senator Farrell for the question. The Turnbull government are committed to ensuring Australia's welfare system provides appropriate support to those in need while remaining sustainable for future generations. This measure is one that is very simple: we have repealed the carbon tax and so we are repealing the carbon tax compensation. It is simply not sustainable to continue to compensate people who have not yet even entered the welfare system for a tax that no longer exists. Had the carbon tax not been repealed in 2014, it would have caused long-term increases in electricity prices. When the carbon tax was repealed on 1 July 2014, the Australian— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Fierravanti-Wells; I've got Senator Farrell on a point of order. Senator Farrell: Yes; thank you, Mr President. That's all very interesting, but this question was about the energy supplement and the government's intention to abolish it. Can you please direct the minister to answer the question? The PRESIDENT: Senator Farrell, you know I can't direct the minister how to answer a question. Listening carefully to the answer, I interpret the minister is talking directly about the topic raised and is directly relevant to—Senator Wong? Senator Wong: We asked about the backflip on the Medicare levy— Senator Ian Macdonald: Do you have a point of order, or are you just— Senator Wong: The point of order is on direct relevance. You really do have an issue, don't you? Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order around the chamber! Senator Wong, please address your comments to me. Senator Jacinta Collins: And he's getting worse! Senator Wong: Seriously! The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, please direct your comments to me. Senator Wong: I'm looking at you; I would much rather look at you. Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald! I have asked Senator Wong—the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate does have the right to raise another point of order, and I'm giving her that— Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, I'm asking Senator Wong to address her comments to me. Senator Wong: If you would like me to rephrase the point, I'd ask you, if you are able, after question time to come back to the opposition on how it is that an answer about the carbon tax is directly relevant to a question about keeping a measure on the books in the context of the Medicare levy? The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, I'm happy to come back. I took notes on the question and that the final part of it referred to the maintenance of the energy supplement. I took Senator Fierravanti-Wells to be directly talking about that in her answer. If I'm incorrect, I will come back to the chamber, but I've interpreted— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Can I rule before the interjections start again? Senator Fierravanti-Wells was talking about a payment and the reason for its placement, removal and maintenance in all those scenarios, and I rule it as directly relevant even if it's not in the terms that the questioner would ask. Senator Wong interjecting— Senator FIERRAVANTI-WELLS: It doesn't surprise me to hear that interjection; you don't even know what your position is on this measure. Let me take you back: in their 2016 election document, the Labor Party published a list of 30 measures that they would reverse in government. It's a detailed list, but there's not one mention of reversing the decision by the government to end the carbon tax compensation of the energy supplement. After the election, the Leader of the Opposition confirmed that this document would be their consistent position. Which is it? The member for Jagajaga says they're against it. The member for Maribyrnong says they're going to bank it and spend it. Only in the minds of the opposition could you have both. Meanwhile, the shadow Treasurer is sitting there wondering if he has a $1 billion hole in his books. Therefore, as I have said, had the carbon tax not been repealed in 2014, it would have caused long-term increases in electricity prices. When the carbon tax was repealed on 1 July 2014, the Australian— (Time expired) Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald and Senator Wong, I didn't hear who that was but I don't think it was the person referred to. Senator Farrell, a supplementary question?