Senator LUDWIG (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister Assisting on Queensland Floods Recovery) (14:28): I thank Senator Cory Bernardi for his continued interest in the US. Can I say, I do not look like the US President. It is an area where— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator Cormann: The note from Penny! Here we go! The Penny has dropped! Senator Wong: I am just the postie! Senator LUDWIG: Thank you. It is very difficult. I know they used to do it to Senator Wong; I am surprised they are doing it to me, too. It must be the topic that gets them excited. But let us be clear about this. In going to the range of areas that the opposition go to, they are trying to undermine the work we are doing in the Australian economy—not the US economy— Senator Brandis: It is apparent surely to you, Mr President, that none of this answer is relevant even indirectly to the question asked. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Honourable senators interjecting— Senator LUDWIG: I thank those opposite for trying not to interject. The commission looked at a report published by the Climate Commission that dispels once and for all the myths pushed by the opposition that Australia is acting alone. What Senator Cory Bernardi underpins his question with is that we are acting alone and we are not acting in unison with other countries. The commission concluded that every major economy is tackling climate change. It found that 90 countries representing 90 per cent of the global economy have committed to reduce their carbon pollution and have policies in place to achieve these reductions, and that many of these countries are relying on market based mechanisms. We have a fixed price for three years and then will move to a market based mechanism. The commission's report concluded that a carbon price is the most cost effective way to reduce emissions and is more efficient than other direct subsidy policies. That is why next year carbon trading will be operating at the subnational level in the United States. (Time expired)