Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance) (14:18): I thank Senator Milne for that question. The Abbott government has not, and never has, questioned the science of climate change. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator CORMANN: We are committed to appropriate action on climate change— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I realise it is the first question time since the election and some people are a little bit excited, but the minister is entitled to be heard in silence. When there is silence we will proceed—simple as that. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Milne has asked a question; she is entitled to have her answer— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: On my left! Senator Cameron interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Doug Cameron. When there is silence we will proceed. Senator Cormann, continue. Senator CORMANN: Thank you, Mr President. I am really pleased that between Senator Milne and myself we have been able to lift the spirits of Her Majesty's most loyal opposition. Let me repeat: this government has not and never has disputed the science of climate change. We are committed to effective action on climate change, but we understand, like the Australian people understand, that the Labor-Greens carbon tax, the biggest economy-wide carbon tax in the world, is not effective action on climate change. We on this side of the chamber understand, and the people across Australia understand and have voted that way at the last election, that your carbon tax, Labor's carbon tax, imposed on the Australian people by the Labor Party and the Greens, just pushes up the cost of electricity, pushes up the cost of living, pushes up the cost of doing business, makes Australian businesses less competitive than businesses overseas, shifts emissions to other parts of the world along with economic activity and jobs, shifts emissions to other parts of world where for the same amount of economic output those emissions will be higher than they otherwise would have been. The Labor-Green— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Cormann, resume your seat. I'll give Senator Cormann the call when there is silence. Senator Cormann. Senator CORMANN: The Labor-Green carbon tax arguably makes climate change worse, not better, because it shifts emissions to other parts of the world where for the same amount of economic output they would be higher than they would have been if that production had happened more environmentally efficiently here in Australia. What we are committed to is to reducing emissions in Australia in a way that is good for the environment and good for the economy.