Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:22): It is the case that the design of the MRRT, as the chamber knows, does credit state royalties. Regrettably, we have seen somewhat reckless decisions made by states in recent times. I would remind those opposite that royalties are an inefficient tax. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator WONG: I will take the interjection from that end of the chamber. The PRESIDENT: No, Senator Wong. Just address the question. Ignore the interjections. Senator WONG: I am attempting to ignore the interjections. I would make the point that those opposite are so critical of this government in many ways but they are very happy to support the Queensland government's royalty increases. Senator Edwards: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I was very specific. In fact, I restated it twice: what is the dollar value of all those royalty credits accumulated by all iron ore and coal miners to date? What is the value? The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! The conduct of question time would be much better without interjections. I made it clear that the interjection was disorderly and I did draw the minister back to the question. I believe that the minister is answering the question. The minister now has one minute and seven seconds to answer the question. Senator WONG: The most up-to-date figures for the MRRT are those released in the mid-year update, which is the MYEFO, where, as we have stated, the revenue to be received under the MRRT has been written down. Obviously the update would have to include all policy decisions taken to the time at which MYEFO was prepared. The senator can rest assured that royalty increases that have been announced have been taken into account in the revised revenue figures, certainly in respect of Queensland. I make this point, however, again: royalties are an inefficient tax. The Henry review made very clear— Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. The minister was asked about the dollar value of royalty credits. That is all the question was about. She has not addressed the issue of royalty credits whatsoever in this answer and she has not even attempted to go near giving a dollar value of those royalty credits. These questions are written specifically and we are entitled to a directly relevant answer, and in fact the minister is obliged to give a directly relevant answer. Senator Jacinta Collins: Mr President, I rise on the point of order. If senators on the other side listened rather than made continual points of order during Senator Wong's contribution, they would hear, as indeed I did, that she has been addressing the issue of royalty credits. She indicated that the update includes policy changes related to, amongst other things, royalty credits and was highlighting the impact of some reckless state behaviour in increasing them, which of course affects the dollar figures that you are referring to. The PRESIDENT: Order! I cannot instruct the minister how to answer the question. I am listening closely to the minister's answer. The minister has 22 seconds remaining. I believe there is no point of order at this stage. Senator WONG: I will spell it out very simply: the government has taken into account the announced royalty changes by the Queensland government. As I have previously indicated in this place, the government is not in a position to take into account the decision by New South Wales, given the specific policy details are to be announced. Any changes to the revenue have been reflected in the MRRT figures to which I have referred. (Time expired)