Senator ABETZ (Tasmania—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Employment) (14:05): I thank Senator Eggleston for the question. Today's statement by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce that the carbon tax is among the significant challenges faced by the airline reinforces why it is imperative that the Green-ALP opposition passes the carbon tax repeal legislation— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Abetz, I know you wish to continue, but resume your seat because you are entitled to be heard in silence. Those on my left, if you wish to debate the answer that is being given, the time to debate answers is after three o'clock. The minister is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator ABETZ: Let me repeat: Qantas has said that the carbon tax is among the significant challenges being faced by Qantas as we speak. The carbon tax could be removed this afternoon if the Greens and ALP senators got over their resentment of the Australia people in their decision of 7 September and actually voted for what the Australian people want—namely, a repeal of the carbon tax. According to Mr Joyce, Qantas is simply unable to recover the costs of the carbon tax through fare increases. So far this financial half year the carbon tax has cost $59 million— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Abetz, you should resume your seat so that you can be heard in silence. You are entitled to be heard in silence. Those on my left will stop interjecting during this answer. Senator ABETZ: The ALP in particular simply do not want to hear the truth: the carbon tax is hurting the airline industry to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars each year. And Mr Joyce's comments, of course, come on the back of the comments of the CEO of Virgin saying exactly the same thing. And yet the ALP-Green opposition in this place are still in denial. Virgin Australia wants to axe the carbon tax, Qantas wants to axe the carbon tax and Australians want to axe the carbon tax. The only people that refuse to do that which is necessary are the Labor-Green opposition in this place, and they are the ones that are destroying the job opportunities of our fellow Australians.