Senator CONROY (Victoria—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:21): It is not surprising that those opposite do not want to talk about their plan. This is what Mr Tony Abbott said in November 2009. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Conroy. Senator Cormann. Senator Cormann: Mr President, I rise on a point of order in relation to the requirement to be directly relevant. The minister has not been directly relevant in either the substantive or the supplementary question before us. This question was very specific about whether there was any scenario in which the Prime Minister would consider rescinding the increase in the carbon tax, which is planned for Monday. He is talking about Mr Abbott. That has nothing to do with the plans that the government may or may not have in relation to the planned increase in the carbon tax. The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister of the question. You still have 43 seconds remaining. Senator CONROY: As I said, those opposite do not want to talk about their plan. They will not acknowledge the following facts about the government's position. Emissions in the national electricity market were down 7.4 per cent in the first 11 months—that is 12 million tonnes less carbon pollution than for the same period last year. Renewable energy generation is up by almost 30 per cent. Senator Brandis: I rise on a point of order on the requirement that the minister be directly relevant to the question asked. The question was: would the government consider rescinding the increase in the carbon tax to take pressure off families and businesses? The minister has not addressed that question. He has addressed, in general, the question of carbon pricing. He was asked whether the government would do one thing—that is, rescind the upcoming rise in the carbon tax. He has not addressed himself to that question. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: When there is silence— Senator Jacinta Collins: On the point of order, Senator Conroy is being relevant to the government's policy position, which is clear and which he has outlined. The PRESIDENT: With 43 seconds remaining in the question, I did ask the minister to address the question. I remind the minister of the question. The minister has 13 seconds to address the question. Senator CONROY: Those opposite refuse to acknowledge the fact that their scare campaign about the impact of the carbon tax has been seen through by the Australian public. With all of the measures— (Time expired)