Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:53): The good senator did anticipate my first response to that, which is that the extent of emission reduction does depend on the price as well as on other factors, including how industry responds and how the economy responds to the challenge of abatement. It is the case that the level of emissions reduction does depend, in large part, on the price. Unsurprisingly, notwithstanding the question from the senator, I am not going to be announcing aspects of a package that is obviously still being worked through by the government and by the members of parliament who do care about this issue. I am simply not going to go through a hypothetical analysis, as I am being invited to. It is clear, notwithstanding the opposition of the opposition, that placing a price on carbon is the most effective way to reduce emissions. It is the cheapest way to reduce emissions. That is why this government tried on a number of previous occasions to get a price on carbon through the Senate. That is why the former Prime Minister, Mr Howard, arrived at a position that Australia should put a price on carbon. Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, I have a point of order on relevance. I did not ask the minister about what other governments might have done. I asked two very specific questions: the number of tonnes and, if it depends on a price, the range—which I know the climate change department has been working on or should have been—and what that is as a percentage of world emissions. They are very specific and have nothing to do with what the previous government might or might not have done. I would ask you, Mr President, to tell the minister to answer it or sit down if she cannot. Senator Conroy: Mr President, on the point of order: this is a question that was based on a false premise and had a hypothetical thrown in as well. This is a question that was utterly ludicrous. Despite that, Senator Wong has been absolutely discussing the question and responding to it. But when you ask a hypothetical on a hypothetical on a hypothetical it does become a little absurd and it is broad ranging. I would ask you to dismiss this frivolous point of order. Senator Macdonald is just embarrassed that his question was so poor. The PRESIDENT: I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question and the minister does have 19 seconds remaining to address the question that has been asked by Senator Macdonald. Senator WONG: I was asked what the emissions reduction would be and I answered that that obviously depends on the price as well as other factors. I was invited to give a range on the price and I have explained to the chamber why I am not in a position to do that until the government announces its package.