Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:17): Thanks to Senator Waters for her question. The government has put forward a safeguard mechanism, the purpose of which is to provide a predictable and orderly pathway to net zero by 2050 for the 215 biggest emitters in our economy. And I would make the point, and I understand this is an issue of negotiation and discussion, that this is the only chance that the parliament will have to reduce emissions from all big emitters. The safeguard changes are expected to reduce 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions to 2030. That is the equivalent of taking two-thirds of Australia's cars off the roads. The proposition in the question seems to suggest, or imply, this is not the way we should go about reducing our emissions. That may be the Greens' view; we don't share it. We see benefit in a predictable pathway to actually deliver the 2030 and 2050 targets. The PRESIDENT: Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Waters? Senator Waters: Yes, reluctantly, a point of order on relevance. I specifically asked whether actual pollution from coal and gas would go up or down under the safeguard mechanism. The PRESIDENT: There was also context before that. I do believe that the minister's being relevant, but I will continue to listen carefully. Senator WONG: I understand that the Greens political party are more interested in particular sectors of the economy and targeting them. We believe that an economy-wide approach based on who the largest emitters are with a predictable pathway to achieving the targets— Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting— Senator WONG: Senator Whish-Wilson, would you like to stand up and give a speech? The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson, please come to order. Minister, please continue. Senator WONG: If he wants to ask and answer his own questions, he's got opportunities to do that, but I'm trying to answer— Senator Whish-Wilson: Well, someone's got to answer them. The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson, I've just called you to order, and I have the minister on her feet! Minister, please continue. Senator WONG: The point we make is that an economy-wide predictable pathway is the lowest cost way for us to ensure these environmental targets— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters, a first supplementary?