Senator CHRIS EVANS (Western Australia—Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:14): I thank Senator Abetz for the question, because here we are, two days after the budget, and after the second question they have run out of questions about the budget. They have got nothing to say about the budget of this country. They got five or six questions yesterday, one today, and they have run out of steam. They have nothing to contribute to the economic debate in this country. They cannot lay a hand on the budget. Senator Cormann interjecting— Senator CHRIS EVANS: It is no wonder we get—'Oh, can you tell us about what is not in the budget?' It just shows how bereft a contribution the Liberal Party has— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Evans, resume your seat. On both sides— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I will give you the call when there is silence. Senator IAN MACDONALD: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. This minister has now had almost a minute and all he has done—the same as Senator Wong does—is comment on the questioner. In no way can that be seen to be directly relevant. I know neither of those ministers have any competence with their own portfolio, but to allow them to spend the first minute of their answers actually attacking the questioner is just not relevant and, Mr President, I would ask that you might interrupt those ministers without us taking a point of order and make them abide by the regulations. Senator CONROY: Mr President, on the point of order, I was surprised that that point of order was taken because I could not actually hear anything that was going on due to the abuse being hurled at the leader from the other side. Senator Ian Macdonald: I could, Stephen, and I sit opposite. Senator CONROY: Let's be clear: I could not actually hear the answer, so I am not sure you are going to be in a position to make a judgment on relevance. Most importantly, traditionally it has always been the case that the leader can range widely across a range of issues. That has always been the tradition. I would put to you, Mr President, that the pathetic attempt to hear his own voice again and to prove he is relevant by Senator Macdonald should be ruled out of order. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. The minister has one minute 19 remaining to address the question and answer the question. It will assist question time if, when the answers are being given, people stop shouting across the chamber. Senator CHRIS EVANS: I was just making, as a preliminary point, the very obvious point that the opposition has nothing to say on the important economic issues confronting this country other than slogans and abuse. What we do know is that, on the second day after the budget at question time, when the government is supposed to be under pressure to be held to account, they have no questions. The government is pursuing the implementation of a price on carbon, as we have committed ourselves to. This government is working through a multi-party climate change committee and consulting with industry, unions and the community about the form of that new price on carbon. That work is ongoing. When that work is finalised, that work will be completed, it will be put to the parliament and any budgetary impacts will be included in future budgets—just as has been the case in the past, when the Howard government introduced the GST. Once those decisions are taken, once legislation is carried, provision will be made in the budgets, as per normal practice.