Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:12): There is a cost to not taking action on climate change, and we've seen it. Anyone who lives in any of the areas affected by, or who watched any of, the more extreme weather events that have occurred—including all the way up the New South Wales coast and into Queensland, with the flooding event—saw it. Senator Cash pretends that yesterday's nonvote by her entire team—earlier today, Ms Ley was asked whether or not there was any directive to senators about not attending the vote for net zero yesterday. The Leader of the Opposition's response was that 'we are regularly in touch with senators and we are regularly in touch with members via the whip and via the Manager of Opposition Business'. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: Yes, we saw it. Of course they were in regular contact, because you all disappeared out of the chamber. Senator Duniam: On a point of order, President, standing order 193(1) says: A senator shall not reflect on any vote of the Senate … So I wonder if Senator Gallagher might actually abide by the standing orders. The PRESIDENT: Senator Duniam, I think your interpretation is very liberal—I don't mean that in the party sense—but I am going to invite the minister to come back to her ministerial responsibilities. Senator Wong: Post your ruling on the point of order, I would make the point that the standing order refers to a vote. In fact, we're talking about the absence of a vote. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, in making my ruling, I was also being quite generous. Minister Gallagher. Senator GALLAGHER: While we get on with the transition to a net zero economy and all the work that that entails, we'll watch you continue to vacate the space and leave the chamber and show absolutely zero leadership.