CARBON TAX

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:33): I have a supplementary question to the Treasurer. Given the minister for transport—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon interjecting:

Ms CHAPMAN: You might listen, Patrick, then you will know. Given that the minister for transport has suggested that there is a cost recovery of the $15 million by price increases, as he has indicated, Treasurer, will you then confirm what the gross liability for the carbon tax is to create the net $10 million that you have suggested?

The SPEAKER: I do not think that was a supplementary. I will count that as a question. Minister.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:33): For the benefit of the member for Bragg, what I have said was not that there is a cost recovery mechanism for the price of carbon. What I have said is that the price of carbon will have an effect upon the CPI; the price of a lot of other things will have that effect, and at some time next year there will be a judgement about whether CPI is passed on in terms of fares. Sometimes the fare is not the full CPI. Sometimes it is not the internal—whatever the inflation rate we use. That is going to happen. That will be a decision next year. It is absolutely spurious to suggest that, because I have said that, I have indicated a cost recovery mechanism for carbon. You know, I think that if they spent less time interjecting and more time listening they would hear what I said.

The SPEAKER: The member for Taylor.