Senator LUDWIG (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Floods Recovery) (14:50): Far from neglecting this area, the government has had its Carbon Farming Initiative, which is part of the Gillard government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and building resilience in farmers to deal with the impact of climate change. Part of that is that the initiative will allow farmers to generate carbon credits and new earning opportunities through a range of activities. Only last week one of those visits to a piggery was about doing exactly that—using effluence to provide and generate carbon credits. One of the challenges from those opposite is that they have refused to get on board where the rural community is already getting on board. Consultation with stakeholders has indicated overwhelming support for the objectives of the Carbon Farming Initiative. Going back to that piggery, the farmers themselves significantly indicated that they were looking for low-carbon pork to go onto the market because they wanted to participate— Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. As you know, the minister is required to be directly relevant to the question. The question asked why the government had neglected to model the farming sector for the carbon tax. That was the only topic of the question—why there had been no modelling of the farming sector for the carbon tax. I ask you to bring the minister to the question. Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, on the point of order: no minister is more attentive to answering the question than Senator Ludwig. He is attempting to provide Senator Nash with a comprehensive answer to her question. He is being directly relevant and is trying to assist the Senate with information. I ask you to rule that there is no point of order. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. The minister is answering the question. The minister has 52 seconds remaining to answer the question. Senator LUDWIG: In dealing with how we ensure that farmers can take up the Carbon Farming Initiative and providing opportunities to use less electricity— Senator Nash: It's not about electricity. Senator LUDWIG: I use the term electricity because generation costs are a significant issue to rural and regional Australia, including to farmers. That is why the Carbon Farming Initiative— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator LUDWIG: I am sorry you do not want to hear. Clearly you are not representing your own National Party cohorts, because the $1.7 billion land sector package announced as part of the securing a clean energy future package will help to support landholders to participate in the Carbon Farming Initiative. It will also help to establish markets for the Carbon Farming Initiative and credits to protect— (Time expired)