Mr SHARP —My question is directed to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer confirm that, after last night's decision, the government still plans to raise petrol taxes by over $1,200 million a year by 1996, with the impact falling hardest on low income earners who own cars that use leaded petrol? Is it a fact that last night's humiliating backdown has not alleviated the real pain of budget tax increases, and was little more than an exercise to con the Australian Democrats and the Australian people? When is the Treasurer going to resign?

Mr DAWKINS —If the honourable member wishes to express a view or participate in debates—

Mr Sharp —Give us an MPI!

Mr DAWKINS —If the honourable member wants to participate in the purposes of policy, in the objectives or the strategy of the budget, the opposition has to decide whether it is in the debate or not. The Leader of the Opposition has decided that the opposition is out of the debate—out of the debate here and out of the debate in the Senate. The opposition has to make up its mind whether it is in or it is out, but for as long as the opposition is out of it, I will treat it as the irrelevancy that it is.