Mr TED O'BRIEN (Fairfax) (14:19): My question goes to the Prime Minister. The government has quoted AEMO to say its renewables-only energy policy would cost $121 billion. Can the Prime Minister confirm that according to AEMO this value does not include a single cent of the cost for the required upgrades to Australia's distribution network? Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order. Before I call the minister, I'd like to hear from the member for Wentworth, who has risen on her feet. She will be heard in silence as well. Ms Spender: Speaker, I'm seeking direction from the chair regarding standing order 100(d)(i). The standing order states that questions must not contain statements of facts unless they can be authenticated. I note that the shadow minister has asked for clarification about the renewables-only plan of the government, and I'd like to understand if that is indeed a renewables-only plan of the government. The SPEAKER: The difficulty the chair has is that I cannot be responsible for every single statement that is made in the House. I can give the member the benefit of the doubt and would hope that no member would ever mislead the House—and I know the member for Fairfax would definitely be in that category—so it's difficult for the chair to make a ruling. The precedent has been for a very long period of time that the question asked by the member be in line with Practice. But I'll hear from the Leader of the House on the point of order. Mr Burke: Just on this standing order, Mr Speaker, there have been occasions where members have been asked to authenticate with evidence. Whether that's something that's appropriate for this question or not, I'm just saying there is some precedent for that being sought. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order. I'll hear from the Leader of the Opposition and then return to the member for Wentworth. Mr Dutton: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. On the point of order that was just raised by the Leader of the House, there's no reference to precedent whatsoever. There's some vague recollection of something that might have happened just around the time of Federation, but no detail, no page of Practice—nothing at all. So I wouldn't take that red herring, Mr Speaker. The fact is that the wheels are falling off this government— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order. The House is going to come to order so we can deal with this issue so question time may continue. On the same point of order, the member for Warringah. Ms Steggall: In furtherance to the member for Wentworth's seeking a clarification from the Speaker, the standing orders are very clear that, in relation to those statements of facts—'unless they can be authenticated'. Since this statement of a renewables-only plan has been repeated on a number of occasions, surely now it is not difficult for the shadow minister to provide the authentication of that statement. The SPEAKER: Look— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order. I can appreciate, on the— Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Members on my right. No. Anyone is entitled to rise on this point of order, and so is the deputy leader. Ms Ley: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, the statement made was a fact. Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order. Members on my right, I want to deal with this matter quickly so we can move on. This is dealing with members' question time, and there are members who I know wish to ask questions. Perhaps on a final point of order, the member for Wentworth. Ms Spender: I note that the opposition's budget reply speech—I read the opposition's budget reply speech—used the term 'renewables only' on the website of the Leader of the Opposition but in quotation marks. So I am seeking clarification: is this a statement of fact in relation to 'renewables only' or is it not—because there are concerningly different interpretations in relation to that? The SPEAKER: We're going to deal with this matter so we can move on with question time. Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Members on my right! I appreciate the concern by members of the crossbench raising this matter. It would be untenable for the Speaker to simply start deciding, or ruling in or out, what I believe is a statement of fact. I have to rely on the authenticity of all members, including members of the crossbench, with their questions—to understand the position that I'm in, to enable question time to operate effectively. We're going to move on. I appreciate the member's statement, but we're going to move on. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy has the call.