Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water) (15:16): We know all about Senator Bernardi and his approach to clean energy and carbon pricing. We know it because he is a well-known denier and sceptic on this issue. We know the role that he played in the Liberal Party with his mentor, former Senator Minchin who has now left the parliament, in the removal of Malcolm Turnbull, the former leader of the Liberal Party. We know why Senator Bernardi got involved in that. We know that it was the policy of the former leader Malcolm Turnbull— Senator Bernardi: Kevin Rudd! Senator FARRELL: No, we are talking about the Liberal Party now, Senator Bernardi. Don't get it confused; we are talking about the Liberal Party. We are talking about the policies of the former leader of the Liberal Party Malcolm Turnbull who was very clear on this issue. He was not a sceptic, like yourself. He was not a denier, like yourself. He understood the importance of clean energy and a clean environment. Senator Cash: What about your role with Kevin Rudd? Senator FARRELL: He understood why Australians needed to take some leadership on this issue, and it cost him his leadership because he was prepared to stick his neck out and say, 'We have to do something about this important issue.' When he did, Senator Bernardi had the knives out. And we have Senator Cash over there—I am not entirely sure how she voted in that ballot, but I think I can guess. Senator Wong interjecting— Senator FARRELL: Yes, Senator Wong is correct. Senator McEwen interjecting— Senator Farrell: I have not read it that closely. I do not take that much notice of Liberal Party ballots— Senator Cash: Why have you been talking about this for 2½ minutes? Senator FARRELL: and who votes for what in the Liberal Party. Senator Cash: What about you? Senator FARRELL: I know the outcomes though, Senator Cash, and I know what the outcome was when Malcolm Turnbull, to his great credit, understood why Australia needs a clean carbon future. I have children and I hope one of these days to have grandchildren, and I want to give those children and those grandchildren the opportunity of a clean energy future. Senator Cash: I would like to give them a job! Senator FARRELL: Well, let us talk about jobs. Senator Cash said, 'What economic achievements have we had in the last three years?' I will give you one, Senator Cash. What about when the rest of the world fell into recession? What did the Australian government do under the Labor Party? We kept Australians in jobs and our clean energy future is going to provide lots of young Australians with jobs. I can see Senator McEwen agreeing with me. I know she knows what I know about what is going on in South Australia. Let us look at just one area—geothermal. Senator Bernardi: It exploded! Senator FARRELL: Mr Deputy President, I seek the protection of the chair here. I sat quietly and listened to that atrocious diatribe by Senator Bernardi, the man behind the end of Malcolm Turnbull. Senator Cash interjecting— Senator FARRELL: And the same with you, Senator Cash. I sat quietly and listened to that shrill diatribe— Senator Cash: Now that is sexist and that is nasty. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Farrell and senators on my left. Senator Farrell, you have the call. I suggest you direct your remarks to the chair, not across the chamber, and you will find you will not need my protection. Senator FARRELL: Thank you for that protection, Mr Deputy President. Senator Bernardi interjecting— Senator FARRELL: You may call it exploding but I have great faith in our clean energy policies of the future, particularly in what geothermal is going to do in my home state of South Australia. We have a series of proposals up there, all about applying new technologies, new ideas for the problems of the— (Time expired) Question agreed to.