Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:17): I thank Senator Birmingham for his question. The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting scheme, in relation to which the question was asked, is of course a scheme put in place by the Howard government in 2007, under the then minister, Mr Turnbull. Obviously, the government takes the integrity of carbon emissions data very seriously. I am advised that the department has been working with businesses to improve the reporting system which was put in place under the Howard government. I am also advised that the department has accepted all the recommendations in the report and is putting in place measures to address the issues identified before the carbon price comes into effect. Senator Brandis: You mean all those massive errors! Senator WONG: Lord Brandis, if you want to talk about the errors you might want to wander down to the other place and have a chat to Mr Turnbull, because it was he who put the reporting system in place. I am not sure whether you two are actually speaking, because I recall that you used to support him and then you did not—but that is another point. From April of this year, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting scheme will be administered by the new, independent— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Wait a minute, Senator Wong. I need to hear the answer, and it does not help to have interjections across the table from both sides. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, ignore that interjection. Address your comments to the chair. It does not help question time. Senator WONG: From April of this year, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting scheme will be administered by the new, independent Clean Energy Regulator, and the largest emitters will be required to audit their reports before they submit them each year. This will be a substantial improvement to the current reporting scheme. As I said, the department has already been clear that it has accepted all of the recommendations of the audit office report.