I remember attending this debate last year when Senator Quinn, whose contribution this evening I did not hear, warmly welcomed the Minister's commitment to introduce a carbon energy tax from the following year. I thought it remarkable that during his 45 minute dissertation in the other House, the Minister did not mention that commitment. I would be interested to know where that commitment stands. I for one have never believed the Minister was in any way committed to a carbon energy tax or that he cares a toss about the Kyoto Protocol and our commitments under it. I regret that his silence today has proved that he cares little for what are solemn international treaty obligations.