Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:51): Can I first make the point to Senator McKenzie that the policy that she is advocating, as the alternative to the policies that this government is putting forward, is a policy which would require some $600 billion worth of spend on the budget and will result in more expensive energy. I just want everyone to be really clear, when Senator McKenzie talks about the costs to consumers and when she talks about the increase of costs passed through to consumers, that she is advocating a policy position which will, in fact, increase energy prices, which would result in a worse position for consumers. Senator Ruston: Why are you talking about us? Senator WONG: I heard Senator Ruston saying, 'Why do you want to talk about us?' The point is we are at a point where you are offering yourselves as the alternative government, and you should be held to account for the policies that you are putting forward. You should be held to account for the policies you are putting forward. The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie? Senator McKenzie: A point of order on direct relevance. It was about the impact of the government's energy policy on food prices—nothing else. The PRESIDENT: That's correct. That was your question, Senator McKenzie, and there have been a lot of interjections from other opposition senators, which Minister Wong is entitled to address. So I would suggest, rather than me constantly having to call people to order, that, if you want your question answered, you stop your senators behind you from interjecting. Senator WONG: The reality is the cheapest form of new energy is renewable, and I know that fact— Senator Ruston: That is so wrong. Senator WONG: Senator Ruston is somehow more of an expert than the market! Isn't that amazing? She's more of an expert than the market and more of an expert than those from the energy markets who advise us! She's more of an expert than those who invest! The reality is you pursued a set of policies in government which meant no-one invested. We are cleaning this up, but you're proposing a more expensive policy for the Australian people. The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?