Senator McKENZIE (Victoria—Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education and Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) (14:01): I thank the chamber for giving me a few minutes to catch my breath! Thank you, Senator McAllister, for your question. I think the National Party have been very, very clear on the only thing that is exercising our minds this week and, in fact, on the only thing that's exercised our party room for the last 14 years that this place has had this debate—that is, the impact of our country's climate policy decisions on rural and regional Australia and the people that live there. The poorest people in our nation live out in rural and regional Australia, and when electricity prices go through the roof they are the ones that feel the impact. The transport workers who drive our food and fibre up and down the highways and byways of this nation are the ones slugged by former Labor governments' follies in this area. It was only one political party that stood in the way— The PRESIDENT: Minister, please resume your seat. Senator McAllister, on a point of order? Senator McAllister: My point of order is on direct relevance. The question went to a quote that was provided by Senator Antic and whether or not the Deputy Prime Minister agreed with that. Senator McKenzie has not really touched that question. I would like her to answer it. Senator McKenzie interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, please resume your seat. Senator McAllister, as you know well, I cannot direct the minister how to answer the question. The question had a long preamble, including a quote. It—Senator Wong? Senator Wong: Mr President, I recognise this is your first question time and that it will take— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, what is your point of order? Senator Wong: We disagree with your ruling, and we would ask you to reconsider the suggestion that there was a very long preamble as the basis of your ruling. I would ask you to read the Hansard, take account— The PRESIDENT: I will— Senator Wong: I haven't finished, if I may, Mr President. I haven't finished my submission. The PRE SIDENT: Senator Wong, please continue. Senator Wong: Thank you; I appreciate it. I would ask you to reconsider your ruling, so early, to rule out an issue of direct relevance on the basis of a very long preamble. It was not a very long preamble. I reiterate the opposition's point of order as to direct relevance. The minister has not even got close to Senator Antic's quote. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, you did not actually wait for me to complete my ruling. I said there was a long preamble in the form of a quote—if you had allowed me to finish—that contained a particular assertion I believe the minister was being directly relevant to matters contained in the question. Senator McKENZIE: As for Liberal Party senators and MPs—Senator Antic being one of them—and their contributions to this public debate, I have no comment to make. I am, absolutely, prepared to stand by the Deputy Prime Minister's public commentary—and, in fact, the National Party's public commentary—around the debate before the public at this time. It is our whole, sole focus as representatives of the 30 per cent of Australians who don't live in capital cities—our miners, our manufacturers, our farmers and those in our regional capitals—to make sure their interests are served in this place in this debate. That is all we're interested in. That is the only question before us as a party, and that is the thing we are taking very, very seriously. The PRESIDENT: Senator McAllister, a supplementary question?