Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:57): Isn't it extraordinary that Senator Cormann, the great defender of the mining sector, is not at all interested in that question nor in the one before about the impact on mining jobs in Queensland. I am not surprised you are getting up. You do not want to talk about it, do you? You are very sensitive when it comes to Liberal-imposed taxes. Senator Cormann: Mr President, I rise on a point of order and that is the requirement for the minister to be directly relevant to the question. There was a very specific question asked and that was: what is the cost to the federal budget from these royalty increases in states around Australia because this government has made a promise to the big three miners to credit all state and territory royalties against their mining tax liability? It is a number. The only answer that can be directly relevant to the question is a number and, if the minister does not know it, she should take it on notice and sit down. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister has been addressing the question for 17 seconds and there are 43 seconds remaining. I invite the minister to address the question. Senator WONG: As I said before, it is interesting that those on the other side do not want to talk about the effect on employment of a Liberal royalty increase but they are happy to exaggerate and make false claims about the effect on jobs of a Labor government's policy. I will share this with the Senate in response to the question: this comment has been previously made—'increasing tax on mining will cripple Australia's most productive industry and anyone who does not think this will deter investment has got rocks in their head'. Who said that? Senator Conroy interjecting— Senator WONG: No. It is even better. It is our own Lord Brandis! Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong, you need to refer to honourable senators by their correct titles.